The International Criminal Court has convicted a former Congolese vice president of murder, rape and pillage for commanding troops who committed widespread atrocities in the Central African Republic in 2002 to 2003.
The conviction on Monday of Jean-Pierre Bemba marked the first time the court has convicted a suspect based on his role as a military commander. It also was the first judgment focusing on a brutal campaign of rape by troops in an armed conflict.
Bemba, the highest-ranking person yet convicted by the court in The Hague, showed no emotion as Presiding Judge Sylvia Steiner read out the long judgment highlighting horrific crimes by his militia. He will be sentenced following a separate hearing. mfl
His defence lawyers can appeal.
Presiding Judge Sylvia Steiner of Brazil outlined a litany of rapes by members of Bemba's militia, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, after it was deployed to Central African Republic to help forces loyal to then-president Ange-Feliz Patasse fight rebels led by Francois Bozize.
Bozize's forces ultimately won and he replaced Patasse as president.
Judge Steiner said women, girls and men were targeted by Bemba's forces.
Entire families were victimised," Judge Steiner said. "Victims included the elderly men, women and children."
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