The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has disclosed that the Pre-Trial Chamber had been constituted in The Hague to establish whether to commence investigations in Kenya’s post-election violence.
He said that he has a strong case against the masterminds behind last years post election violence.
“A team of investigators, lawyers, and international cooperation advisers is ready to do this case,” he said.
Addressing the press in Nairobi, Ocampo said he would rely on the Justice Phillip Waki report and other investigations conducted by other agencies to convince the judges at ICC to approve that he commences investigations into the Kenya case.
“Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova, Hans-Peter Kaul and Cuno Tarfusser would handle the Pre-Trial Chamber II proceedings,” a brief statement from The Hague based court said.
The move follows a letter from ICC Chief Prosecutor on Thursday, indicating his intention to submit a request for the authorization of an investigation into the Kenya case.
He indicated that the perpetrators bearing the biggest responsibility will be exposed by next year to assure Kenyans of peaceful elections.
“There is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the Situation in the Republic of Kenya in relation to the post-election violence of 2007-2008,” said the ICC prosecutor.
Ocampo said two or three cases could come to trial by July next year.
” I expect the definition of charges and suspects will take place in the course of 2010,” said Ocampo .
Ocampo explained that once the judges authorize the investigations, he would return to Kenya to visit the sites where crimes were committed and to meet with the victims saying the victims had a role during proceedings.
Over 1000 lives were claimed and more than 350,000 people displaced following the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki in December 2007.
Source African Press Agency
