[JURIST] Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] on Thursday set the closing arguments [order, PDF] for the case against Jean-Pierre Bemba [BBC profile] for the week of November 10. The closing statements were delayed so that the Chamber may hear the testimony of Witness P-169, who is being brought as per the defense’s request to testify about alleged collusion between prosecution witnesses. This witness, considered very valuable to the prosecution’s case, had previously testified in July 2011 during the Bemba trial [ICC summary page]. The defense asserts that a meeting was held between P-169 and the Victims and Witness Unit (VMU) in April 2013 where P-169 and members of VMU discussed payment methods for his testimony. Then the defense claims, in June 2013, the two sides met again in which P-169 was offered a sum of money.

Bemba is on trial for war crimes charges stemming from his activities as the military leader for the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC). It is alleged that during 2002 and 2003, he committed two crimes against humanity and three war crimes in the territory of the Central African Republic (CAR) [JURIST Archives]. Bemba has pleaded not guilty. In November 2013 four persons were arrested [JURIST report] on charges of falsifying evidence in connection with the Bemba trial. In August 2012 defense lawyers for Bemba commenced their arguments [JURIST report], arguing that the MLC was not under his control [Radio Netherlands Worldwide report] when the crimes were committed. The trial began [JURIST report] in November 2010, with prosecutors arguing that Bemba’s failure to control the troops he ordered into the CAR renders him criminally responsible for the crimes that were committed there. Bemba was arrested [JURIST report] in Belgium in May 2008 after the ICC issued a sealed warrant for his arrest.