Amsterdam, Sept 23. (dpa/GNA) – The International Criminal Court (ICC), on Wednesday convicted a former rebel leader from the Central African Republic of crimes against humanity, after years of proceedings.
Presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba, ruled that Mahamat Said Abdel Kani’s guilt for torture and persecution was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Said committed the crimes in 2013 in the capital Bangui, when he was commander of a notorious prison. “He was in charge and gave the orders,” the judge said.
The 56-year-old defendant has maintained his innocence since being handed over to the court by the Central African Republic in 2021. The defendant was acquitted of war crimes charges.
The judges found that no international armed conflict was under way at the time the crimes were committed. Sentencing will be determined at a later date. The verdict can still be appealed.
Said was a leader of the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels, who overthrew then-president François Bozizé in 2013.
The rebels persecuted predominantly Christian civilians. Women and girls were raped, men arbitrarily detained, tortured and murdered.
Said ran the prison from March to August 2013, which prosecutors described as a “torture centre.”
People were held there in appalling conditions, including in an underground dungeon directly beneath Said’s office.
Prisoners were beaten with rifle butts and whipped, according to the court ruling. Numerous people suffered serious harm and were severely traumatized.
Following the overthrow of president Bozizéof the Central African Republic, fighting broke out with the Christian anti-Balaka militias, as well as several splinter groups.
The UN says, more than 700,000 people have so far fled the violence to neighbouring countries.
GNA