The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday ordered the conditional release of former Democratic Republic of Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba ahead of his war-crimes trial.
”The continued detention of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo did not appear necessary … to ensure the appearance of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo at trial,” the court said in a decision published in The Hague.
The court added that there was no reason to believe Bemba would obstruct the investigation or continue to commit the crimes he is charged with.
Bemba’s release was put on hold pending a determination of which state shall receive him, and the imposition of a set of conditions, said the ruling. — Sapa