The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors formally stated their opposition to the “indefinite adjournment” of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s trial, as requested by his defense team, citing health reasons.
In a document submitted to the ICC pre-trial chamber dated September 11, the prosecution argued that court proceedings against Duterte “cannot be ‘adjourned indefinitely’ on the sole basis of the reports” transmitted by the defense.
“The Prosecution is in the process of engaging its own expert(s)… to assist in determining Mr. Duterte’s fitness to participate in the pre-trial proceedings and to stand trial,” the prosecutors said.
“The Prosecution accepts that an adjournment may be necessary, but any delay should be limited to the time required for the Chamber to expeditiously render its decision on the fitness of Mr Duterte to take part in the ongoing pre-trial proceedings and to stand trial,” it added.
Duterte through his lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman urged the ICC earlier to shelve its crimes against humanity case against the former president, who was rendered mentally unfit for trial.
The 80-year-old politician was scheduled to appear at the ICC on September 23 to hear charges over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands.
The ICC ruled earlier this week to adjourn that hearing while judges assessed Duterte’s health, but Kaufman urged the case be shelved indefinitely.
Duterte “is not fit to stand trial as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains,” wrote Kaufman in a legal filing published Thursday on the ICC website. –With Agence France Presse
