The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo
Case Sheet · ICC
The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo
| Situation | Situation in the Central African Republic |
| Case Number | ICC-01/05-01/08 |
| Status | Acquitted |
Context
Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC). He was charged with crimes allegedly committed by MLC troops in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003. He was convicted at trial and sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment, but acquitted on appeal on 8 June 2018.
Pre-Trial
| Application for First Arrest Warrant | 9 May 2008 |
| First Arrest Warrant | 23 May 2008 (Secret) ·24 May 2008 (Public) |
| Crimes at First Arrest Warrant | Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS War crimes War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of outrages upon personal dignity · art. 8(2)(c)(ii) RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi) RS |
| Second Arrest Warrant | 10 June 2008 |
| Crimes at Second Arrest Warrant | Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS War crimes War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of outrages upon personal dignity · art. 8(2)(c)(ii) RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi) RS |
| Arrest | 24 May 2008 · Arrested by Belgium · Transferred to ICC 3 July 2008 |
| Initial Appearance | 4 July 2008 |
| Crimes at Document Containing Charges | Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of torture · art. 7(1)(f) RS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS War crimes War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of torture · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-4 RS War crime of outrages upon personal dignity · art. 8(2)(c)(ii) RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi) RS |
| Confirmation of Charges Hearing | 12 - 15 January 2009 |
| Result of Confirmation of Charges | 15 June 2009 · Charges confirmed |
| Crimes Confirmed | Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS War crimes War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi) RS |
Trial
| Trial Chamber | Trial Chamber III · Judges: Judge Sylvia Steiner (Presiding), Judge Joyce Aluoch, Judge Kuniko Ozaki |
| Trial Opening | 22 November 2010 |
| Trial Judgment | 21 March 2016 |
| Crimes at Trial Judgment | Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 7(1)(a) RS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 7(1)(g)-1 RS War crimes War crime of murder · art. 8(2)(c)(i)-1 RS War crime of pillaging · art. 8(2)(e)(v) RS War crime of rape · art. 8(2)(e)(vi) RS |
| Sentence | 21 June 2016 · 18 years of imprisonment |
Appeal
| Appeals Chamber | Judges: Judge Christine Van den Wyngaert (Presiding), Judge Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, Judge Howard Morrison, Judge Piotr Hofmański |
| Appeals Filed by | Defence |
| Appeal Judgment | 8 June 2018 |
| Final Judgment | Acquitted |
Key Documents
| First Warrant of Arrest | First Warrant of Arrest (2008) |
| Second Warrant of Arrest | Second Warrant of Arrest (2008) |
| Document Containing Charges | Document Containing Charges (2008) |
| Confirmation of Charges Decision | Decision on Confirmation of Charges (2009) |
| Trial Judgment | Trial Judgment (2016) |
| Sentencing Decision | Sentencing Decision (2016) |
| Appeal Judgment | Appeal Judgment (2018) |
| ICC Case Page | Official ICC page |