Charles Ble Goude, the erstwhile leader of the pro-Gbago youth movement known as ‘Young Patriots’, expressed “gratitude” to his defense lawyers at the International Criminal Court over lunch.
Goude was acquitted by the ICC in the case of crimes against humanity during the 2010-2011post-election violence in Cote d’Ivoire.
“For seven years, they were my second family here where I didn’t know anyone. They worked day and night until my final acquittal. I wanted to show them my gratitude over lunch this morning,” Ble Goude wrote on his Facebook page.
Mr. Charles Ble Goude, the co-accused with former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, said “thank you” to his case managers and particularly to “Boss Master Knoops,” one of his lawyers.
The ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed on March 31, 2021 the decision to acquit former President Laurent Gbagbo and his co-accused Charles Ble Goude, in the case of crimes against humanity perpetrated during the Ivorian post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011.
The judges, by a majority, who had made “no remarks, which could have seriously tainted the decision” of their acquittal, consequently dismissed the prosecutor’s appeal, while upholding the decision of the Trial Chamber.
The Appeals Chamber submitted to a review of the conditions of the release of MM. Gbagbo and Ble Goude, reviewing and modifying the associated conditions, while revoking all conditions remaining upon their release.
On January 15, 2019, Trial Chamber I acquitted MM. Laurent Gbagbo, but, on September 16, 2019, the prosecutor replied, filing an appeal against their acquittal.
Today, they are free to travel the world.
AP/ls/fss/as/APA