ICC: We seek to arrest Al-Bashir Haroun and Hussein as soon as possible

Senior Trial Lawyer at the (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor, Julian Nicholls, confirmed the court’s desire to arrest the ousted President Omar Al-Bashir, Ahmed Haroun and Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, bring them to (The Hague) as soon as possible and grant them a fair trial.

Nicholls described the trial of (Kushayb) as the first in regards to the case of Darfur, however, it won’t be the last, statng: “We will do our utmost to achieve this outcome.”

The Senior Trial Lawyer emphasized that justice may be delayed but it will be achieved, in reference to the delay in the trial of (Kushayb) for thirteen years, and describing the crimes that occurred in (2003) and (2004) as horrific.

He expressed his gratitude to the victims and witnesses who had the ability and mustered the courage to undertake such difficult journeys in order to testify, adding: “Without the assistance of the individuals who made the journey in order to tell the truth, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything,” indicating his frustration with the difficult conditions they live in.

Nicholls shared, according to (Al-Taghyeer) newspaper: “My team and I are feeling good and very confident,” expressing his contentment with the closing arguments in which they detailed significant points to the judges and answered all their questions.

Regarding the statement presented by (Koshayb) in court, Nicholls explained that it doesn’t represent evidence in the case according to the judges, noting that the Rome Statute allows him the right to testify or make a statement.

And concerning the subject of the defense attorney’s statement, claiming that all these crimes cannot be placed -solely- on Koshayb’s shoulder, Senior Trial Lawyer at the (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor, Julian Nicholls, stressed that amassing partners in crime doesn’t make anyone less guilty. He went as far as to add in press statements that they have evidence proving the involvement of Ahmed Haroun, who was involved in the same case as (Koshayb): “The horrific crimes we are investigating, from murder, rape to forced displacement, aren’t the crimes of one person.”

Regarding the defendant’s denial that he is, in fact, (Koshayb), Nicholls shared that the matter is now up to the judges, and they will be responsible for making a decision. In response to Al-Taghyeer’s request to comment on the defense attorney’s description of the trial as unfair, he stated that they are free to say whatever they want, emphasizing that (Kushayb) received a fair trial from the first day until the end of the closing arguments.