KUTOKA KENYA : MWANDISHI WA HABARI WA KENYA BW. WALTER BARASA KUPELEKWA MAHAKAMA YA ICC ,HUKO THE HAGUE

A picture taken on September 22, 2013 shows Kenyan journalist Walter Barasa speaking in Nairobi during a press conference. PHOTO/FILE

HABARI KWA KISWAHILI

MAHAKAMA KuuJumatano ilitoa kibali kwa serikali kumkamata Mwanahabari Walter Barasa na kumwasilisha katika Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Uhalifu, (ICC).

Akitoa kibali hicho, Jaji Richard Mwongo alisema aliridhika na sababu zilizotolewa na Waziri wa Usalama wa Ndani Bw Joseph Ole Lenku za kumkamata Bw Barasa na kwamba hakukuwa na sababu za kukataa kumwasilisha ICC.

“Kulingana na habari zilizotolewa mahakamani, ninaridhika kwamba Bw Barasa yuko Kenya na anatafutwa na ICC. Sina sababu za kukataa ombi hilo na ninatoa kibali cha kumkamata,” akasema Jaji Mwongo.

Bw Barasa anatakiwa ICC kujibu mashtaka ya kuingilia mashahidi katika kesi ya dhuluma dhidi ya binadamu inayomkabili Naibu Rais William Ruto na aliyekuwa mtangazaji Joshua Sang.

ICC ilitoa agizo la kumkamata kesi ya Bw Ruto na Bw Sang ilipoanza baada ya likizo ya Pasaka wakati ambapo shahidi nambari P-673 alipokuwa akitoa ushahidi.

Akikamatwa na kupelekwa ICC, Bw Barasa atakuwa Mkenya wa nne kushtakiwa katika  mahakama hiyo iliyo mjini The Hague, Uholanzi. Wakenya wengine ni Bw Ruto, Sang na Rais Uhuru Kenyatta ambaye kesi yake haijaanza.

Mnamo Septemba mwaka jana, Kiongozi wa Mashtaka wa ICC, Bi Fatou Bensouda aliitaka serikali ya Kenya kusaidia kumpeleka Bw Barasa, baada ya majaji kutoa agizo la kumkamata.

Kuhonga

Inadaiwa kwamba mwanahabari huyo alijaribu kumhonga shahidi nambari 536 na mumewe kwa Sh1.4 milioni ili akubali kuondoa ushahidi kwake dhidi ya Bw Ruto na Bw Sang.

Bw Bensouda alisema Barasa alitenda kosa hilo jijini Kampala, Uganda kati ya Mei 20 na Julai 25 2014. Shahidi ambaye anadaiwa kuhongwa alikuwa ameorodheshwa wa kwanza kutoa ushahidi katika kesi dhidi ya Bw Ruto na Bw Sang.

Hata hivyo, Barasa alienda mahakamani kupinga asikamatwe akidai  ni kukiuka haki zake za kikatiba na akikamatwa atadhulumiwa.  Jaji Mwongo alipuuza madai yake na kusema ombi la kumkamata mwanahabari huyo lilifanywa kulingana na sheria.

“Hati ya kiapo ya Bw Lenku ilionyesha wazi kwamba aliridhika na agizo hilo na alitoa stakabadhi na habari kuhusu kukamatwa kwa Barasa. Kwa hivyo, ombi hilo limeungwa kikamilifu na kutimiza mahitaji yote ya Mkataba wa Roma,” akasema Bw Mwongo.

HABARI KWA KIINGEREZA 

A warrant of arrest was on Wednesday issued against journalist Walter Barasa, setting in motion the process of his extradition to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Mr Justice Richard Mwongo of the High Court ruled that he was satisfied with the reasons given by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku for the arrest of Mr Barasa and that there were no reasons to decline the request by the ICC to have Mr Barasa extradited to The Hague.

“From the information available, I am satisfied that Mr Barasa is present in Kenya and is the person being sought by the ICC. I have no reason to decline the same request and do hereby issue a warrant for his arrest,” ruled Justice Mwongo.

Mr Barasa is wanted by the ICC to face charges of interfering with witnesses in the crimes against humanity charges facing Deputy President William Ruto and former journalist Joshua arap Sang.

His warrant was issued on a day the trial of Mr Ruto and Mr Sang resumed in The Hague after the Easter recess, with Witness P-673, a crime victim, taking the stand.

Once arrested and extradited, Mr Barasa will become the fourth Kenyan to be tried at The Hague-based court. He will join Mr Ruto, Mr Sang and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Kenyatta’s trial is yet to begin.

(READ: Uhuru seeks removal from Barasa-ICC case)

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in September last year requested the help of the government in Mr Barasa’s extradition after she obtained a warrant for his arrest from the ICC judges.

Mr Barasa is accused of offering Sh1.4 million to Witness No 536 if she agreed to withdraw as ICC prosecution witness in the trial of Mr Ruto and Mr Sang. Source: Daily Nation