ICC Judges throws out appeal: Ex-Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo to remain in detention

• Report by AFRICAN PRESS INTERNATIONAL at The Hague, Netherlands, 26th. October 2012:

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo,

The International Criminal Court has today Friday rejected Laurent Gbagbo‘s appeal against his detention while waiting for trial for crimes against humanity committed in Ivory Coast while he was the president..

Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, in his reaction to the appeal said “It is appropriate to confirm the impugned decision as it was not affected by any error.” The judge was reacting to Gbagbo’s arguments against the initial ruling whereby the Pre-trial chamber in July decided to keep him in detention, even as he claimed his health was deteriorating.

The  67-yer old Gbagbo through his lawyers had filed an appeal on May 1 requesting “interim release” while awaiting trial. He was arrested in his country by his opponents with the help of France and transferred to the ICC, in The Hague in November last year 2011.

He wanted to cause the ICC judges to release him claiming he was of poor health. He told the court he wanted to be out of the prison in order to prepare himself well for his upcoming trial.

He will now remain in custody until his trial date. He faces four counts of crimes against humanity:, – murder, persecution, rape, and other inhumane acts. All these stems from election violence after Gbagbo lost Ivory Coast’s presidential elections in November 2010.

The ICC judges fear if released as he has requested, he will abscond,  with the help of his followers who have since regrouped after he lost power.

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>>>>* AFRICAN PRESS will bring you a full interview with Mr Gbagbo next week!

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