Laurent Gbagbo, the ousted president of Ivory Coast, has been ruled free by the International Criminal Court (ICC) after a nearly decade-long tribunal.
The prosecution’s testimony was “exceptionally thin,” according to the judges, and Gbagbo was cleared on all allegations in 2019 – long before his conviction for serious violent offences after the 2010 presidential elections had concluded. The ICC upheld the acquittal on Wednesday.
The defense had lodged an appeal, alleging significant ethical irregularities and administrative flaws as justifications. However, the appellate chamber dismissed any of the complaints and upheld the acquittal by a plurality vote.
Read Also: The Electricity Sector Levies Bill for 2021 has been approved by Parliament
Gbagbo becomes the first foreign head of state to be convicted by the judge, and he was provisionally freed from jail in 2019. Fatou Bensouda, the former prosecutor, experienced a big disappointment with his acquittal.
Gbagbo refused to accept defeat during the 2010 elections. Approximately 3,000 people were killed in the resulting conflict in the West African region. In 2011, the ex-president was extradited to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
His co-accused Charles Ble Goude’s acquittal was also upheld.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
