Lawyer says Philippines’ Duterte was ‘abducted’, too ill to testify at ICC

by Admin
Lawyer says Philippines' Duterte was 'abducted', too ill to testify at ICC

During the initial appearance, the judge summarised the allegations against Duterte, who was not asked to enter a plea.

Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, is set to be the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC, a court of last resort created more than two decades ago to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, aggression and genocide.

Duterte has said that he suffers from a series of ailments, including a chronic neuromuscular disorder, back problems, migraines and a condition that can cause blockages in the blood vessels.

Duterte’s surrender to the court marks a big victory for Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who faces US sanctions over his arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At the end of the hearing, judges set a confirmation of charges hearing to start on Sep 23, when prosecutors can present part of their evidence and judges decide what charges can be in the indictment. A trial would not be expected to start until early 2026.

Source Link

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.