“PRESUMED INNOCENCE”
The high-profile Duterte case comes at a essential second for the ICC, because it faces unprecedented stress from all sides, together with United States sanctions.
Final month, US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court docket over what he mentioned have been “illegitimate and baseless actions concentrating on America and our shut ally Israel.”
The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity in the course of the Gaza struggle.
Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan hailed Duterte’s arrest as a key second for victims and worldwide justice as an entire.
“Many say that worldwide regulation will not be as robust as we wish, and I agree with that. However as I additionally repeatedly emphasise, worldwide regulation will not be as weak as some might imagine,” Khan mentioned in an announcement following Duterte’s arrival in ICC custody.
“Once we come collectively … once we construct partnerships, the rule of regulation can prevail. Warrants may be executed,” he mentioned.
On the preliminary listening to, a suspect can request interim launch pending a trial, in line with ICC guidelines.
Following that first listening to, the subsequent section is a session to substantiate the costs, at which level a suspect can problem the prosecutor’s proof.
Solely after that listening to will the court docket resolve whether or not to press forward with a trial, a course of that would take a number of months and even years.
“It is vital to underline, as we now begin a brand new stage of proceedings, that Mr Duterte is presumed harmless,” mentioned Khan.
