Bensouda Has Sufficient Evidence to Jail Ruto

ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has said that she has sufficient evidence to put Deputy President William Ruto and Journalist Joshua Arap Sang behind bars.

“The Prosecution submits that the evidence presented, taken at its highest, is sufficient to satisfy a reasonable Trial Chamber that the Prosecution has proved all of the essential elements required to secure a conviction of both accused. Accordingly, the Defence Motions should be dismissed,” Bensouda told the judges.

The Prosecutor was reacting to Ruto and Sang's no-case-to-answer motions, in which they argued that she did not have evidence linking them to the crimes against humanity.

However, while submitting a 140-page response, Bensouda said that Ruto controlled a network that evicted communities that were associated with the Party of National Unity (PNU).

She added that Kalenjin youth were trained and given guns to be used in the violence occassioned by the 2007/2008 disputed elections.

In response to Ruto's arguments that the Prosecution could not link him to former Mount Elgon MP Fred Kapondi and businessman Jackson Kibor, Bensouda remarked that the Ruto's Network had the following involved: Sang, Kibor, Kapondi, Farouk Kibet, Christopher Kitino Kisorio, John K. Tanui, Mark Too, Isaac Maiyo, Samuel Ruto, Solomon Tirop and Lucas Sang.

On radio journalist Joshua Sang, the Bensouda said that he promoted propaganda against PNU supporters and broadcast meetings, event locations of the network.

“In all, the evidence reveals that the attacks in the charged incidents were not the product of spontaneous actions, but rather the end result of a concerted, organised attack by thousands of Kalenjin youth directed and assisted by the Network,” Bensouda asserted.

DP Ruto and Sang are accused of crimes against humanity, which they allegedly committed during the 2007/2008 post-election skirmishes that left over 1,500 people dead and thousands displaced.

 

 


 

  • . . .