Kenyan Lawyer Wanted by ICC Surrenders to Police in the Netherlands

Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), has finally surrendered to authorities in the Netherlands.

This comes five years after The Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant against him over alleged witnesses interference.

Gicheru is suspected of offenses against the administration of justice consisting of corruptly influencing witnesses of the court, according to a statement released by the ICC on Monday.

“The Court, through the Registry services, submitted a cooperation request to the Dutch authorities for the arrest and surrender of Mr. Gicheru to the Court upon completion of the necessary national arrest proceedings,” the statement read.

The ICC issued a warrant of arrest against Gicheru and another Kenyan, Philip Kipkoech Bett, on March 10th, 2015. 

The two are accused of tampering with prosecution witnesses, which led to the collapse of cases against Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang.

ICC judges ordered the corruption case against the two be heard at The Hague as they doubted Kenya’s willingness to prosecute them.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Gicheru and Bett are believed to have bribed or attempted to bribe six prosecution witnesses by offering them between Sh500,000 and Sh5 million each so that they could recant their evidence and withdraw as witnesses. Bribery of witnesses is an offense under Article 70 of the Rome Statute.