Hague court extends legal help to Sang

By Judy Ogutu The International Criminal Court (ICC) has granted radio presenter Joshua Sang legal assistance.
However, ICC said the legal aid to Sang was provisional. "As previously stated, this period will not surpass 30 days. At the expiry of this period, should your client be found indigent, legal aid payments will ensue in accordance with the Registrar’s decision to be rendered in response to your client’s request for legal assistance paid by the court," read a letter to Sang’s advocate Katwa Kigen.
Mr Sam S Shoamanesh, head, Counsel Assistance Unit, and Counsel Support Section at the ICC wrote on April 1.
According to the ICC, the legal aid resources Sang is entitled to are, one counsel who will be paid a maximum of 10,832 Euros (Sh1,267,344) monthly, a legal assistant paid a maximum of 6,113 Euros monthly (Sh715,221) and a case manager, who will be paid a maximum of 4,872 Euros monthly (about Sh570,024).

Radio presenter Joshua Sang is among the Kenyan ICC suspects. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

There is also a monthly cumulative lump sum of 4,000 Euros (Sh468,000) to cover expenses of the team. The total legal aid amounts to Sh3,020,786 for one month.
The ICC also has a provision for 73,006 Euros (Sh8,541,702) for investigation to last the entire period of the proceedings.
Million-shilling budget
Mr Shoamanesh told Kigen that should investigative work be required in the next 30 days for Sang, the Sh8 million budget could be used to cover costs "provided they are reasonably necessary for an effective and efficient legal representation."
The radio presenter, through Kigen, had requested to have the cost of his legal presentation covered by ICC’s legal aid system.
In Kenya, a fundraiser by well-wishers for the radio presenter collected Sh3.3 million. Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto were among those who contributed.
Sang has been summoned to the ICC together with Uhuru, Ruto, former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and former Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey. Before granting the legal aid, ICC had initially written to Sang’s lawyer indicating he had already raise substantial funds.
"It has been brought to our attention that your client, Sang, has successfully raised substantial funds to assist in covering the costs associated with his implication in the court’s proceedings," reads part of the letter.