The International Criminal Court (ICC) has set December 6 this year when it will open the full trial against the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen.
Ongwen, a former commander of LRA’s Sinia brigade is facing 70 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Northern Uganda.
A press statement issued by the ICC Public affairs Unit dated 30 May notes that the Trial Chamber IX set the date after noting submissions by the Prosecution and the Defense.
According to the press statement, the Chamber decided that it will only hear opening statements on 6 December 2016 while presentation of evidence by the Prosecution will commence in January 2017 on a date yet to be announced.
Ongwen’s trial will be conducted by Trial Chamber IX, composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Presiding Judge, Judge Peter Kovacs and Judge Raul C. Pangalangan.
On March 23 this year, Pre-Trial Chamber II confirmed the 70 charges brought by the Prosecutor against Dominic Ongwen and committed him to trial. He however denied the charges and appealed against the confirmation of the 70 charges.
Ongwen’s charges concerns crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during attacks against the Pajule IDP (October 2003), Odek IDP (April 2004) Lukodi IDP (May 2004) and Abok IDP camps (June 2004).
Other crimes include sexual and gender-based crimes directly and indirectly committed by Dominic Ongwen and crimes of conscription allegedly committed in northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005.
The former LRA commander surrendered from Central African Republic in January last year and was handed to the ICC on 16 January 2015.
Ongwen is the only indicated LRA commander indicted by ICC in 2005 that is facing trial. Others indicted by ICC included Elusive LRA leader Joseph Kony, Raska Lukwiya (RIP), Vincent Otti (RIP) and Okot Odhiambo also dead.
