Lawyer Paul Gicheru who was facing interference charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands has been found dead at his home in Karen, Nairobi, police have confirmed.
The 52 year old, was charged with eight counts of offences against the administration of justice. He denied all eight charges.
After one year and eight months from the date he travelled to the Hague, in July 2022 Gicheru closed his defence before Trial Chamber II Judge Maria Samba, asserting his innocence.
The ICC, in its statement, said following the hearing that lasted two hours, it would hand its verdict within a reasonable time.
“Trial Chamber III will deliberate on the proceedings and, within a reasonable period, pronounce its decision on conviction or acquittal, pursuant to Article 74 of the Rome Statute. The Chamber bases its decision only on the applicable law and on evidence submitted and discussed before it at the trial,” the court statement read.
Image: ©ICC-CPI
The lawyer surrendered to the ICC in November 2020 in honour of a warrant of arrest that was issued by the court in 2015. After two months, he was freed on conditional bail and allowed to travel back to Kenya pending confirmation of the charges against him.
He allegedly bribed witnesses to either recant their testimonies or refuse to testify in the crimes against humanity case that faced President William Ruto and former journalist Joshua Sang.
Cases against the two were officially terminated in April 2016 after they were found to have no case to answer.
According to the prosecution, Gicheru offered bribes and other inducements, in exchange for withdrawal as witnesses or recantation of their prior statements to the prosecution.
