July 12, 2010 UPI.com
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 12 (UPI) — A Congolese militia leader’s appeal to have the war crimes charges against him dropped was denied Monday by international court judges.
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court found that the November decision of the Trial Chamber denying Germain Katanga’s request did not infringe on his right to a fair hearing. The panel said he had been given “adequate notice and opportunity to raise the issue of his alleged unlawful pre-surrender arrest and detention.”
Katanga had filed a motion in June 2009 requesting his detention be declared unlawful and the proceedings against him be stopped. The Trial Chamber rejected that motion in November, saying it was submitted seven months too late.
