People detained by the International Criminal Court

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ICC detention centre
Scheveningse gevangenis 001.jpg
People detained by the International Criminal Court
Location Scheveningen, The Hague
Coordinates 52°06′38″N4°18′05″E / 52.11061°N 4.301469°E / 52.11061; 4.301469
Capacity12
Opened2006
Managed byThe ICC registrar

People detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) are held in the ICC's detention centre, which is located within a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague. The ICC was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. [1] As of June 2018, it has issued public arrest warrants for 42 individuals, six of whom are currently in custody of the court.

Contents

The ICC detention centre is for holding people who have been charged with crimes, not for imprisoning convicted criminals. [2] As such, all detainees are considered innocent until their guilt has been proven. [2] Upon conviction by the ICC, criminals are transferred outside the Netherlands to serve their sentences. [2]

Detention centre

The ICC currently has twelve detention cells in a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague. [3] Suspects held by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals are held in the same prison and share some facilities, like the fitness room, but have no contact with suspects held by the ICC. [3]

The ICC registrar is responsible for managing the detention centre. [4] The rules governing detainment are contained in Chapter 6 of the Regulations of the Court [4] and Chapter 5 of the Regulations of the Registry. [5] The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to the detention centre. [6]

Facilities

Each individual has their own toilet and washing area. [7] Each has access to a small gym and is offered training with a physical education instructor. [7]

Detainees are provided with meals, but they may also cook for themselves, purchase food from the prison shop, and have ingredients ordered in. [2] [8] However, Charles Taylor's lawyers have complained that "the food which is served is completely Eurocentric and not palatable to the African palate". [8]

Each detainee has a personal computer in their cell, on which they can view material related to their case. A specific computer is designated to the defence, where they can upload case-related material for the detainee to view and comment on. [2] They are offered computer training, if required, [2] and language courses. [7] Additionally, detainees are given access to fresh air, recreational and sports activities, as well as television and news.

Detainees' rights

Detainees are allowed to communicate in private with their defense teams and diplomatic representatives of their countries of origin. [2] They are permitted visits from family members, spouses and partners, and spiritual advisors. [2]

List of detainees

The following table lists all the people who have been held at the ICC detention centre since it was established in 2006. The first person detained by the court was Thomas Lubanga, who arrived at the detention centre on March 17, 2006. [9]

Three former prisoners have been released or transferred, including Charles Taylor, who was tried in the Special Court for Sierra Leone. His trial was held at the ICC's facilities in The Hague because of political and security concerns about holding the trial in Freetown. [8] [10]

NameImageArrivedDepartedNotesRef.
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo 17 March 200619 December 2015Sentence of 14 years' imprisonment. On 19 December 2015, he was transferred to a prison facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to serve his sentence of imprisonment. [11]
Charles Taylor 20 June 200615 October 2013Tried by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, transferred to the United Kingdom to serve his sentence of 50 years' imprisonment. [12] [13]
Germain Katanga German Katanga during his trial in Kinshasa, 2016.png 17 October 200719 December 2015Sentence of 12 years' imprisonment. On 13 November 2015, the Appeals Chamber reduced his sentence. The date for the completion of the sentence is set to 18 January 2016. On 19 December 2015, Germain Katanga was transferred to a prison facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to serve his sentence of imprisonment. [14]
Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui 7 February 200721 December 2012Released following acquittal; appeal confirming previous sentence [15]
Jean-Pierre Bemba The Vice President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Jean Pierre Bemba calls on the Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on March 3, 2005 (cropped).jpg 3 July 200814 June 2018Sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment as of 21 June 2016. His war crimes conviction was overturned on June 8, 2018. He has one appeal remaining regarding witness tampering. [16]
Radovan Karadžić RadovanKaradzic.jpg 30 July 200826 May 2021Tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, sentenced to life imprisonment on 20 March 2019. Moved to a prison on the Isle of Wight on 26 May 2021. [17] [18]
Callixte Mbarushimana 25 January 201123 December 2011Released following dismissal of charges [19]
Ratko Mladić Mladic Trial Judgement (crop).jpg 31 May 2011—Tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, sentenced to life imprisonment on 22 November 2017. Verdict and sentence were confirmed in June 2021. He remains incarcerated in The Hague.
Laurent Gbagbo Laurent Gbagbo (2008).jpg 30 November 20111 February 2019Acquitted of charges. He was released conditionally on February 1, 2019, to reside in Belgium, because prosecutors appealed after his initial acquittal. Verdict was confirmed in 2021, and Gbagbo returned to Côte d'Ivoire on 17 June 2021. [20]
Bosco Ntaganda 22 March 201314 December 2022Found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was transferred to Belgian prison on 14 December 2022. [21]
Aimé Kilolo Musamba25 November 201321 October 2014Case in appeal stage [22]
Fidèle Babala Wandu25 November 201321 October 2014Case closed. He was sentenced in total to 6 months’ imprisonment. [22]
Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo4 December 201321 October 2014Case in appeal stage [22]
Narcisse Arido18 March 201421 October 2014Case closed [23]
Charles Blé Goudé 22 March 20141 February 2019Acquitted of charges. He was conditionally released, as prosecutors appealed against verdict. After confirmation of his acquittal in 2021, he returned to Côte d'Ivoire on 26 November 2022. [24]
Dominic Ongwen 21 January 201518 December 2023Sentence of 25 years' imprisonment. Found guilty of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The appeals chamber confirmed the guilt and verdict on 15 December 2022. Transferred to a Norwegian prison on 18 December 2023. [25]
Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi 26 September 20153 May 2019Pleaded guilty; sentenced to nine years' imprisonment on September 27, 2016. Transferred to a UK prison on May 3, 2019. [26] [27] [28]
al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz 31 March 2018—On trial [29] [30]
Alfred Yekatom 17 November 2018—On trial
Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona Ngaissona.png 23 January 2019—On trial
Ali Kushayb 9 June 2020—On trial
Paul Gicheru 3 November 20201 February 2021Died on 27 September 2022; proceedings withdrawn on 14 October 2022
Mahamat Said Abdel Kani 24 January 2021—On trial
Maxime Mokom Maxime Mokom.jpg 14 March 202217 October 2023Released after charges were withdrawn
Rodrigo Duterte President Rodrigo Duterte portrait (cropped).jpg 12 March 2025–Arrested 11 March 2025

See also

References

  1. ↑ United Nations Department of Public Information (December 2002). The International Criminal Court. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 International Criminal Court (2007). "ICC Detention Centre" (PDF).. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Emma Thomasson (February 28, 2006). ICC says cells ready for Uganda war crimes suspects Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine . Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  4. 1 2 International Criminal Court (May 26, 2004). "Regulations of the Court" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27., Chapter 6. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  5. ↑ International Criminal Court (September 25, 2006). "Regulations of the Registry" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-29., Chapter 5. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  6. ↑ International Criminal Court (March 29, 2006). "Agreement between the International Criminal Court and the International Committee of the Red Cross on Visits to Persons deprived of Liberty Pursuant to the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-29., Article 4. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 International Criminal Court (April 2006). FAQ about detention put to Terry Jackson, Chief Custody Officer of the ICC Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine . ICC Newsletter No. 7. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 Alexandra Hudson (May 31, 2007). Warlord Taylor's home is lonely Dutch prison. Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  9. ↑ International Criminal Court (March 17, 2006). First arrest for the International Criminal Court . Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ BBC News (June 20, 2006). Q&A: Trying Charles Taylor . Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  11. ↑ "The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo (ICC-01/04-01/06)". ICC. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  12. ↑ "Charles Taylor Transferred to the UK for the Enforcement of his Sentence" (PDF). SCSL. 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  13. ↑ "ICC - The Special Court for Sierra Leone to use ICC Facilities for Trial of Charles Taylor". ICC. 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  14. ↑ "Germain Katanga found guilty of four counts of war crimes and one count of crime against humanity committed in Ituri, DRC". ICC. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  15. ↑ "The Prosecutor v. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui (ICC-01/04-02/12)". ICC. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  16. ↑ "The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo (ICC-01/05-01/08)". ICC. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  17. ↑ "Ex-Bosnian Serb wartime leader Karadzic given life in prison". Reuters. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  18. ↑ "War criminal Radovan Karadzic behind bars on Isle of Wight". Isle of Wight County Press. 2021-05-29. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  19. ↑ "The Prosecutor v. Callixte Mbarushimana (ICC-01/04-01/10)". ICC. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  20. ↑ "The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo (ICC-02/11-01/11)". ICC. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  21. ↑ "The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda (ICC-01/04-02/06)". ICC. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  22. 1 2 3 "The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido (ICC-01/09-01/13)". ICC. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  23. ↑ "ICC-CPI-20140318-MA154: Initial appearance of Narcisse Arido scheduled for 20 March 2014". ICC. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  24. ↑ "ICC-CPI-20140322-PR988: Charles Blé Goudé transferred to the ICC". ICC. 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  25. ↑ "Ongwen Case" . Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  26. ↑ Situation in the Republic of Mali: The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi Archived 2016-08-03 at the Wayback Machine (last updated August 24, 2016).
  27. ↑ Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi: The vandal of Timbuktu, BBC News (September 27, 2016).
  28. ↑ Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi transferred to UK prison facility to serve sentence Archived 2023-07-16 at the Wayback Machine .
  29. ↑ "Situation en République du Mali – Affaire – Le procureur c. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud" [Situation in the Republic of Mali – Case – The prosecutor v. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud](PDF). International Criminal Court (in French). 2018-03-27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  30. ↑ "Situation in Mali: Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud surrendered to the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Timbuktu". International Criminal Court . 2018-03-31. Archived from the original on 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
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