UN: ICC commits former Ivorian youth leader's case for trial

New York, US (PANA) - The Presidency of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has referred the case of the former Ivorian youth leader, Charles Ble Goude to ICC's Trial Chamber I, which will be in charge of the trial.

A brief ICC statement sent to PANA in New York on Monday stated that, the Trial Chamber I is
composed of Judge Cuno Tarfusser (Italy), Judge Olga Herrera-Carbuccia (Dominican Republic) and Judge Geoffrey Henderson (Trinidad and Tobago).

It said Trial Chamber I would set a date for the trial to commence in due course, noting,
however, that "preparations for the trial, which can take several months, will take place under
the authority of the Trial Chamber."

PANA recalled that on 11 December, the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed four charges of
crimes against humanity against Goude and committed him to trial.

Goude, born on 1 January 1972 in Niagbrahio, Cote d’Ivoire, was surrendered on 22 March
2014 to the ICC by the national authorities of Cote d´Ivoire following a warrant of arrest issued
by the ICC on 21 December 2011.

It will also be recalled that the confirmation of charges hearing took place from 29 September
to 2 October 2014.

The ICC had said the Pre-Trial Chamber thoroughly examined all the evidence submitted
to it by the parties, which included more than 40,000 pages of documentary evidence,
statements by 134 witnesses, and more than 1200 items of audio and video material.

"In light of the evidence and observations presented by the parties and participants to the
proceedings, Pre-Trial Chamber I concluded that there is sufficient evidence to establish
substantial grounds to believe that Charles Ble Goude is individually criminally responsible
for the crimes against humanity of murder, rape, other inhumane acts or – in the alternative –
attempted murder, and persecution committed in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, between 16
December 2010 and on or around 12 April 2011," it noted.

Goude is accused of having engaged his individual criminal responsibility for committing
these crimes, alternatively, as indirect co-perpetrator (under article 25(3)(a)), ordering,
solicitingor inducing (25(3)(b)), aiding, abetting or otherwise assisting (25(3)(c)) or
contributing in any other way to the commission of these crimes (25(3)(d) of the Rome
Statute.

Goude, leader of the young patriots and staunch supporter of former Ivorian president
Laurent Gbagbo was known for his vitriolic speeches during the 2010 crisis and, as
former minister for sports and youth, recruited some 5,000 pro-Gbagbo youth into the
Ivorian Army.
-0- PANA AA/AR 22Dec2014