Central African Republic: the first SCC trial postponed again
A general view of the Special Criminal Court (CPS), in Bangui, on April 19, 2022. AFP - BARBARA DEBOUT
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
A rocky start to the Special Criminal Court's first-ever trial since its creation 7 years ago.
The CPS is a mixed court composed of national and international magistrates and responsible for judging the most serious crimes committed in the Central African Republic since 2003. If the trial has actually started, for the opening of the proceedings it will still be necessary to wait.
Since the hearing has once again been postponed to May 16.
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With our correspondent in Bangui,
Carol Valade
After
a first dismissal last week
due to the boycott of the defense lawyers, who considered their fees insufficient, the latter are once again asking for the postponement of the hearing, the time to prepare their opening remarks.
The debates will therefore not open before next May 16 on the decision of the President.
The announcement makes people cringe after 3 years of proceedings. On the side of the Court, the prosecution but also the associations of victims who expressed their anger and impatience a few days earlier before the headquarters of the CPS.
In the dock, three members of the 3R rebel group Issa Sallet Adoum, Ousman Yaouba and Mahamat Tahir are being prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the massacre of around fifty civilians in the north-west of the country in May 2019.
The Court's most critical observers note the absence of high-profile detainees.
All three had been voluntarily handed over by their chief to the United Nations mission.
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To read: Central African Republic: the CPS opens its first trial, 7 years after its creation
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Central African Republic