Gicheru surrendered to the ICC on November 2, 2020, five years after a warrant of arrest was issued against him.
Gicheru is accused of corruptly exploiting witnesses in the case against Deputy President William Ruto which was thrown out in 2016 due to insufficient evidence.
The lawyer who has been out on a sh 1 million conditional bail is expected to attend the opening of his trial although the defence team is not expected to present any statements during the stage.
In it's ruling in July 2021, the ICC Pre trial Chamber confirmed that lawyer Gicheru committed offenses against the administration of justice in order to undermine the Prosecution’s case against Deputy President William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.
“Specifically, with relation to eight witnesses, Mr Gicheru and other members of the common plan allegedly identified, located, and contacted the witnesses, offered and/or paid them financial or other benefits, and/or threatened or intimidated them, in order to induce them to withdraw as Prosecution witnesses, refuse to or cease cooperating with the Prosecution and/or the Court, and/or to recant the evidence which they had provided to the Prosecution,” the court said in a July 2021 statement.
“The decision on the confirmation of the charges only serves to determine whether the Prosecutor’s case should proceed to trial. It does not establish the guilt of the accused person, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a trial chamber of the Court.”
The Hague based court had issued a warrant of arrest against lawyer Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett on March 10, 2015 for what it termed as “offenses against the administration of justice consisting of corruptly influencing witnesses.”
Gicheru surrendered himself to authorities in the Netherlands was taken into ICC custody on November 3, 2020 before making his first appearance before the court on November 6, 2020.
His case will be tried before Trial Chamber III, composed of Judge Miatta Maria Samba
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