ICC Court to issue arrest warrants for contempt

By Lucianne LimoWarrants of arrests will be issued to any of the six suspects who fails to appear at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on April 7.
ICC Legal Officer, Mohammed El Zeidy, however, said when the suspects appear at The Hague for the hearing of their case, they will be free to return to Kenya the next day.
"The suspects are free to come back to Kenya on April 8, after the hearing," he added.
The suspects also risk arrest if they fail to comply with the conditions the pre-trial chambers issues such as not interfere with witnesses and to refrain from committing crimes.
They were persuaded
While answering questions on the Kenyan situation, ICC lawyers Eleni Chaitidu, El Zeidy and Gilbert Bitti, said the Pre-Trial Chamber II judges issued summonses after they were persuaded that the suspects would appear for trial.
"They were persuaded that the suspects would appear for trial and, therefore, no need to deprive them their liberty by issuing warrants," they said.
They said although one of the judges had a dissenting opinion, it would not affect future proceedings concerning the Kenyans.
Chaitidu said the judge was not persuaded the crimes committed after the 2007 General Election reached such a level as to be classified under crimes against humanity.