The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday convicted former Central African Republic rebel commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani on four counts of crimes against humanity, including torture and unlawful imprisonment.
The 56-year-old was found guilty of overseeing beatings and other forms of mistreatment while serving as head of a detention unit during the Central African Republic’s civil war in 2013.
Said, who was wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans during the proceedings, reportedly shook his head several times as presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba read out details of the crimes.
The ICC, however, acquitted him of three counts of war crimes.
Prosecutors had accused Said of presiding over the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry (OCRB) detention centre in the capital, Bangui, where prisoners were allegedly subjected to torture and severe deprivation.
The court will determine Said’s sentence at a later date.
The Central African Republic descended into civil war in 2013 after the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition seized power, triggering widespread violence and reprisals between armed groups.
AFP
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