Ex-vice President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Pierre Bemba is seeking his release after his war crimes conviction was overturned.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) last week upheld an appeal against Bemba’s 2016 conviction for committing war crimes.
He was accused of allowing his forces to go on rampage in Central African Republic killing people in 2002 and 2003.
Previous Charges
Last year judges at the ICC added a year to Bemba’s 18-year jail term for attempting to bribe witnesses.
Bemba, who was vice president of the DR Congo from 2003 to 2006, was then ordered to pay a $323,670.00 fine. The money went to the court’s fund supporting victims of atrocities.
But the ICC has overturned his 2016 conviction by upholding his appeal against that ruling.
The judge said Bemba cannot be held responsible for the actions of his forces since he made attempts to stop the crimes.
Bemba, 55, will now seek his release from the ICC detention centre, where he has spent a decade at since 2008.
Source: Africafeeds.com
