Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo Released on Bail

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is now released on bail. The ICC Judges of Appeal have so decided since yesterday in The Hague. But that’s not all. For, after his ten years under the control of his jailer, he was acquitted in the first case concerning the eighteen years consecutive to the intervention of his elements of the DPP in Bangui. Moreover, for the second case concerning the bribing of witnesses, while on bail, Bemba would be called upon to respond, if necessary, to hearings at the ICC, the first of which is scheduled for 4 July. Already, under escort of the Belgian police, he left the ICC since yesterday, in the evening.

Jean-Pierre Bemba first destination

Lilia Teixera, his wife and faithful wife, and five children including four daughters and a boy, are waiting for him at his residence in Rodes Saint Genèse, in one of the prestigious suburbs of Brussels, capital of the Kingdom of Belgium. Such, a living hero, a living legend or, then, an old road of the resistance against all the sufferings endured, the pressures and other war of the nerves collected or undergone, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, born on November 4, 1962 in Bokada, in former Ecuador, senator of his state, challenger of Joseph Kabila in the 2006 presidential election and leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, embodies, by itself, the charisma, the vision and the means of what could be his news ambitions for the future of DR Congo.

New Horizons

Even though he has not even made it clear yet, some people are already seeing him in the political arena, during the next presidential election, which, as the CENI had so well announced, is and remains December 23, 2018. Since Bazaïba said he would come to Kinshasa to attend the Congress of the MlC in early July, it goes without saying that people, acting as swindlers, can, of course, be lost in conjectures on the sequence of events, after the temporary liberation of this man whose virtuous qualities, generally recognised by the great leaders, today exceed the bounds of national boundaries.

Outlet

Scheduled for yesterday, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, the long-awaited verdict in the case of bribing witnesses, after he was acquitted in the case related inter alia, the abuses and other abuses that would be guilty most of his legates sent in 2002 in the Central African Republic, fell yesterday, at the end of the day.

One of his co-defendants in this second case, confiding in the media yesterday, just after the hearing at known issues, did not fail to confirm that at his request introduced since Monday, June 11, 2018, the judges of appeal had no choice but to grant him provisional release. Aimé Kilolo himself, a beneficiary as much as the band to Fidèle Babala et al., Believes that the Criminal Court could not find any subterfuges to continue, unnecessarily, to hold this darling of the militants of the MLC in his cell of Scheveningen, in the penitentiary facilities of the International Criminal Court, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Prejudices?

In other words, things have come to an end. Finally, this long journey, like a time of eclipse, for new encounters with history, a time, perhaps, to return to itself, to rediscover the vision and reconstitute its ideas at the for this ten-year trial of absurd deprivation of liberty, far from his family, who remained for a long time alone in Brussels, of his activities including a plane immobilized and grounded in Lisbon, Portugal, where he possesses, at the same time, property of value, a cozy residence in Faro as well as dependent staff, long cut off and abandoned to his sad fate.

Once released from his chains, Bemba Gombo, with his own body, could be brought to demand damages and interests to the ICC, for all the damages sustained, it is maintained, in the circles of the collective of his Lawyers.

And, on this subject, the figures are already circulating on the height of what could represent the jackpot. Millions of dollars of a hundred dollars should be paid to him, for the balance of any account. Because, in their opinion, the ICC should repair the damages and shortfalls, after the mea culpa of June 8th. Not surprisingly, this is another set of games in which the jurists will once again tear each other around this new twist of events, should Bemba decide to go straight to the same ICC.

That’s why, after leaving the ICC facilities this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in the evening, he stayed in a hotel, before looking to cross the other side, specifically in Belgium where a welcome committee is already on the job. At the time of his arrest, ten years ago, Bemba was a resident of Portugal. At the time of his release, since in his application for provisional release, as he introduced it on Monday 11 June, he wished to benefit from it on Belgian soil, it was necessary for the host country to agree to cooperate with the ICC in this subject. But between the decision to release on bail and the arrangements to be made, there were still some final adjustments. First, the Registry of the ICC which, in principle, should keep the Belgian authorities informed. Then, the formalities necessary to obtain a passport before concretizing this approach with the Belgian Chancery in The Hague. Apart from all this, he was required, in addition, to submit some guarantees that it would not evade the rest of the proceedings in particular, in the case of tampering with witnesses whose next hearing is scheduled for July 4 next . Expected in Brussels and, in the near future, in Kinshasa, Bemba has the opportunity of an exemplary political rebound, provided that it does not interfere with the limits of its provisional liberty.

Specific conditions?

“The Chamber ordered the provisional release of Mr. Bemba under certain specific conditions including refraining from making public statements on this case, not to change address without notice, not to contact any witness in this case. to comply fully with all the orders in this case and to surrender immediately to the competent authorities if the Trial Chamber so required. It is now up to the Registry to make all necessary arrangements and consultations to implement the decision of the Chamber, “according to an ICC statement.

Officially, he has been provisionally released since Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Trial Chamber VII, the same one who, after having held a hearing this morning and received submissions from the parties on the continued detention of Mr. Bemba in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aime Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Kabongo Mangenda, Fidele Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido because of his final conviction for offenses against the administration of justice, considered that taking into account all the factors and the circumstances of the case as a whole, the Trial Chamber considers that the legal conditions for continued detention are not met. In particular, and noting that Mr. Bemba has served more than 80% of the maximum possible sentence, the Trial Chamber considered it disproportionate to continue Mr. Bemba’s detention solely to ensure that he would appear for trial. of pain.

ICC News Release
Bemba et al. : Trial Chamber VII orders the release of Mr. Bemba following the judgment of the Appeals Chamber
On June 12, 2018, Trial Chamber VII of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) ordered Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba’s provisional release on specific conditions after holding a hearing this morning. and received comments from the parties on the continued detention of Mr. Bemba in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Faithful Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido because of his final conviction for offenses against the administration of justice.

This hearing was held following the decision of the Appeals Chamber of 8 June 2018, by a majority, acquitting Mr Bemba of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Central African Republic (CAR). In its judgment, the Appeals Chamber stated that there was no need to detain Mr. Bemba in the case concerning alleged crimes in CAR and that he returned to the Trial Chamber Trial VII to determine whether his detention remained justified by his conviction for offenses against the administration of justice.

Taking into account all the relevant factors and the circumstances of the case as a whole, the Trial Chamber considers that the legal conditions for continued detention are not met. In particular, and noting that Mr. Bemba has served more than 80% of the maximum possible sentence, the Trial Chamber considered it disproportionate to continue Mr. Bemba’s detention solely to ensure that he would appear for trial. of pain.

Thus, the Chamber ordered the provisional release of Mr. Bemba under certain specific conditions including, refraining from making public statements on this case, not to change address without notice, not to contact any witness in this case, and to comply fully with all the orders in this case and to surrender immediately to the competent authorities if the Trial Chamber so required. It is now up to the Registry to make all the necessary arrangements and consultations to implement the decision of the House.

Context: Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aime Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Faithful Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido were convicted of several attacks on the administration of justice, in connection with the bribery of witnesses and the solicitation of false testimony by Defense witnesses in the other case concerning Mr. Bemba before the ICC. On 22 March 2017, Trial Chamber VII rendered its sentence decision in this case. On 8 March 2018, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the convictions for most of the charges but acquitted Mr. Bemba, Mr. Kilolo and Mr. Mangenda of the charge of producing false evidence with knowledge of the charges. cause. The convictions and acquittals of the five accused are now final.
As regards sentences, the Appeals Chamber dismissed the appeals of MM. Bemba, Babala and Arido. The sentences imposed on Mr. Babala and Mr. Arido are now final. The Appeals Chamber granted the Prosecutor’s appeal. The Chamber annulled the sentences handed down against MM. Bemba, Mangenda and Kilolo and sent this matter to the Trial Chamber for a new decision.