International Criminal Court sentences former Congolese militia leader to 12 years
Germain Katanga, a Congolese National, sits during his trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, May 23, 2014.The International Criminal Court on Friday sentenced former Congolese militia leader Germain Katanga to 12 years in jail for his role in war crimes related to a deadly 2003 attack on an eastern village.
Katanga was found guilty in March of helping facilitate and organize a militia that murdered about 200 people in Bogoro village in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The court said Katanga committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, attacks against civilians, destroying property and pillaging.
He has already spent seven years in prison. Judge Bruno Cotte ruled Friday that this will be deducted from his sentence.
The 36-year-old had pleaded not guilty, saying he did not have direct control over the fighters. His lawyers have appealed the conviction.
Katanga, who is nicknamed "Simba," is only the second person to be sentenced by the ICC, which was started in 2002.
Source: Agencies
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