ICC offers Sang monthly legal aid of up to Sh3.6m

By Evelyn Kwamboka and Vincent BartooThe International Criminal Court (ICC) has granted legal aid to Kass FM presenter Joshua arap Sang as the September 1 confirmation of charges hearings draws closer.
It is believed ICC could spend up to Sh3.6 million monthly for the case involving the journalist.
He is the only one among the Ocampo Six who qualified for financial support, as it emerged that the rest, including his co-accused Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, did not apply for legal aid.
The other suspects, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali Mohammed have hired high profile lawyers, including Queen’s counsel, to represent them.
But the funds did not come flowing freely. The court conducted a background check on Sang to establish whether he could pay his legal costs.
Sang confirmed to The Standard the court had heeded his request for legal aid.
"That is a closed issue. I made request (for legal aid) and it was granted. There is nothing new," Sang said in a telephone interview.
His lawyer, Katwa Kigen, is subsequently on the ICC payroll to defend him over accusations that he was among the perpetrators of the 2007 post-election violence. Visiting ICC officials led by Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Fadi El Abdallah said Sang was the only one considered for provisional legal aid.
Workshop
"By ICC standards, the leading counsel is paid 15,000 Euros (about Sh2 million) per month, while the case manager is paid 4,000-5000 Euros (about Sh665,000)," Abdallah told journalists.
Abdalla, Maria Kamara, Jelena Vukasinovic, ICC associate legal outreach officer and Thomas Verfuss, president of the Association of Journalists conducted a workshop for Kenyan editors and journalists who will cover proceedings.
Suspects will not necessarily be required to be in court when confirmation of charges hearings begin.