Ex-VP Bemba found guilty at ICC of witness bribing

Former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has been found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of bribing witnesses. Bemba was found guilty earlier this year of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and jailed for 18 years. On Wednesday he was convicted of corruptly influencing witnesses and falsifying evidence in that trial. Four close […]

Former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has been found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of bribing witnesses.
Bemba was found guilty earlier this year of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and jailed for 18 years. On Wednesday he was convicted of corruptly influencing witnesses and falsifying evidence in that trial. Four close aides were also found guilty. It is the first such corruption trial in the history of the ICC in The Hague.
The court heard that Bemba had masterminded a witness corruption network from inside his prison cell during his original trial. His team used secret phones and coded language to bribe, coach and manipulate at least 14 key witnesses who came to give evidence. The case was brought following a tip-off to the prosecutors’ office.