Kenyan lawyer facing ICC witness interference case found dead

Kenyan lawyer facing ICC witness interference case found dead

Paul Gicheru was facing charges of influencing witnesses in election violence case

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – A Kenyan lawyer who was facing witness tampering charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) was found dead at his home in the Karen suburb of the capital Nairobi, police and family members confirmed late Monday, noting that the cause of death is yet to be determined.

In a statement to the media, police noted that 52-year-old Paul Gicheru was facing charges at the ICC for influencing witnesses and alleged bribery in connection with the trial of then Kenyan Vice President William Ruto, who along with his co-accused, broadcaster Joshua Sang, were charged with instigating ethnic violence following disputed elections in 2007 that caused the deaths of over 1,000 Kenyans.

“He had a late lunch and felt unwell and went to bed, but he did not wake up. His son too collapsed and was taken to Karen hospital in stable condition,” police said in a statement.

The ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Gicheru for corruptly influencing ICC witnesses in 2015.

Gicheru surrendered to authorities in the Netherlands pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC on Nov. 2, 2020.

On July 15, 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber A of the ICC confirmed the charges of offences against the administration of justice against Gicheru and committed him to trial.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta became the first head of state to appear before the ICC after being charged with crimes against humanity during the 2007-08 post-election violence alongside his deputy and current President William Ruto.

Shortly after Mwai Kibaki was announced as president in 2007 after closely beating opposition leader Raila Odinga, tribal conflict erupted across the country.

Kenyatta and Ruto were among those accused of orchestrating the post-election violence that claimed more than 1,000 lives and left more than half a million others internally displaced after being evicted in tribal wars that plagued communities.


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