Gbagbo’s wife must face Hague trial, ICC judges rule

Judges at the International Criminal Court on
yesterday said Ivory Coast must hand over
Simone Gbagbo, the wife of former president
Laurent Gbagbo, who is in The Hague
awaiting trial.

It also committed another close associate for
trial.

All three are accused of plunging the country
into a brief civil war, in which 3,000 people
died, rather than relinquish Gbagbo's grip on
power after he lost the 2010 presidential
elections to current leader Alassane Ouattara.

Laurent Gbagbo and youth leader Charles Ble
Goude are in the ICC's seaside detention
center, but Ivory Coast has refused to hand
over Simone Gbagbo, saying it will try her on
charges of genocide in a domestic court.

The ICC is not allowed to try cases if domestic
authorities are doing the job — but judges
said Ivory Coast was not trying her for the
same crimes.

If Ivory Coast continues to refuse, judges
could refer the matter to the court's 122
member states, who could then decide to
impose sanctions.

Meanwhile, in a different development, two
Kenyan men accused of stripping a woman in
the capital, Nairobi, have been charged with
sexual assault and robbery.

The attack on 19 September sparked
protests, with activists claiming that the
woman had been targeted for wearing a
miniskirt.

The bus driver and conductor denied the
charges during a court appearance on
Wednesday.

They face the death penalty if convicted.

Posted By David Aniemeka