Arrest witnesses who lie, ICC told

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President Uhuru Kenyatta (front centre) shook hands with Deputy President William Ruto (right) after he held a press briefing at State house on the 4th of July 2013. Mr. Ruto’s defence team has asked the International Criminal Court to arrest witnesses who utter false testimony during his trial. Photo/EMMA NZIOKA 

By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Thursday, July 4  2013 at  20:12

Deputy President William Ruto’s defence team has asked the International Criminal Court to arrest witnesses who utter false testimony during his trial.

In a new submission on the conduct of the proceedings dated July 3, Mr Ruto, through lawyer Karim Khan, said the witnesses must receive such treatment to “avoid or reduce the risk of further alleged concoction and contamination of their accounts”.

Said the lawyer in the submission: “...in a case where the defence is alleging that a clear attempt has been made by key prosecution witnesses to fabricate evidence, it may be necessary that such witnesses are dealt with.”

Mr Ruto is facing crimes against humanity charges at The Hague alongside President Kenyatta and broadcaster Joshua arap Sang.

His case has been scheduled for September 10.

Mr Khan asked the trial judges to direct the prosecutor to provide a schedule indicating the order of all witnesses it intends to call at trial in the next one month and list materials it wishes to tender or show to each of its witnesses.

Meanwhile, the trial judges in the case against the Deputy President has dismissed the prosecution’s request for the chamber to caution the Kenyan government on how it proceeds in future with confidential information.

“The Trial Chambers decided that in light of the apology and assurance by the Kenyan Government, the prosecution’s request for a caution could be considered moot and would not be ruled upon,” read the ruling by Judges Chile Eboe Osuji, Olga Herrera and Robert Fremr.