Jean-Pierre Bemba
Former Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba looks up when sitting in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court to stand trial with Aime Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidele Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido, on charges including corrupting witnesses and interfering with the administration of justice in The Hague, Netherlands, September 29, 2015. Reuters/Peter Dejong

News about former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba bribing his witnesses has reached the Hague court. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda described Bemba’s action as shielding the “integrity of the court’s proceedings.” She also noted that acquittal through corrupted means were planned by Bemba himself, adding that phone and bank records taken from the jail log can prove her argument.

Bemba, in his defence, stated that the money given to the witnesses were not meant to influence their testimony, but rather to cover their expenses.

Involved with Bemba’s case are ex-trial lawyer Aime Kilolo Musamba; Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, a member of his legal team; Fidele Babala Wandu, a close associate and politician; and witness Narcisse Arido, who allegedly instructed fellow witnesses or offered them payment for a favourable testimony.

The court acquired a tape in which Kilolo is apparently heard instructing a witness how to respond. He is also heard telling witnesses that the money coming from Bemba was “not corruption” and was in fact “a present” because the witness agreed to testify in Bemba’s favour.

Should they be convicted, the defendants can face up to five years in prison with an unlimited fine.

In 2002, Bemba’s soldiers for Movement for the Liberation of Congo militia intervened in neighbouring Central African Republic, where he is accused of orchestrating atrocities against civilians.

Bemba’s trial started in 2010. He is accused of committing crimes against humanity. The allegations of bribing came after the second trial when witnesses “denied any allegations of wrongdoing,” according to Reuters.

A flawed or tampered testimony can lead to the acquittal of one’s case. A number of high profile cases were shelved due to witness tampering.

In 2014, the case against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was charged of provoking pre-election violence, was abandoned because of massive intimidation and bribing of witnesses.

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