Admissibility challenge - ne bis in idem

Republic of Kenya

Kenya - International Crimes Act 2008 EN

PART I—PRELIMINARY

International Crimes

7. (1) For the purposes of proceedings for an offence under section 6, the following provisions of the Rome Statute shall apply, with any necessary modifications—

(a) article 20 (which relates to crimes for which a person has previously been acquitted or convicted);

PART IV—ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS TO ICC

Surrender and Temporary Surrender

43. (2) The Minister shall make a surrender order in respect of the person concerned unless—
(a) the Minister is satisfied that surrender of the person must be refused because a mandatory restriction on surrender specified in section 51 (1) applies;

PART IV—ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS TO ICC

Restrictions on Surrender

51. (1) The Minister shall refuse a request by the ICC for the surrender of a person if—
(a) there have been previous proceedings against the person and section 53 (3) applies;
(b) the ICC determines that the case is inadmissible
(and section 55 (3) or section 56 (2) applies;

PART IV—ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS TO ICC

Restrictions on Surrender

52. (1) The Minister may postpone the execution of a request for surrender under this Part at any time before the person sought is surrendered if, and only if -

(a) a ruling on admissibility of the kind specified in section 53 (1) or section 55 (1) or section 56 is pending before the ICC;

PART IV—ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS TO ICC

Restrictions on Surrender

53. (1) Where the person whose surrender is sought alleges that—
(a) the case is one to which paragraph 1 of article 20
of the Rome Statute applies (because it relates to
conduct that formed the basis of crimes for which
the person has been convicted or acquitted by the
ICC); or

PART IV—ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS TO ICC

Restrictions on Surrender

53. (1) Where the person whose surrender is sought alleges that—
(a) the case is one to which paragraph 1 of article 20 of the Rome Statute applies (because it relates to conduct that formed the basis of crimes for which the person has been convicted or acquitted by the
ICC); or
(b) the person has been tried by another court for conduct also proscribed under article 6, 7, or 8 of the Rome Statute and the case is not one to which paragraph 3 (a) and (b) of article 20 of the Rome Statute applies, the Minister shall immediately consult with the ICC to determine if there has been a relevant ruling on admissibility under the Rome Statute.

PART IV—ARREST AND SURRENDER OF PERSONS TO ICC

Restrictions on Surrender

53.

(3) If the ICC has ruled that the case is inadmissible under article 20 of the Rome Statute, surrender shall be refused on the ground that there have been previous proceedings.

Rome Statute

Article 19 Challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court or the admissibility of a case

2. Challenges to the admissibility of a case on the grounds referred to in article 17 or challenges to the jurisdiction of the Court may be made by:

(a) An accused or a person for whom a warrant of arrest or a summons to appear has been issued under article 58;

(b) A State which has jurisdiction over a case, on the ground that it is investigating or prosecuting the case or has investigated or prosecuted; or

(c) A State from which acceptance of jurisdiction is required under article 12.

Article 20 Ne bis in idem

1. Except as provided in this Statute, no person shall be tried before the Court with respect to conduct which formed the basis of crimes for which the person has been convicted or acquitted by the Court.

2. No person shall be tried by another court for a crime referred to in article 5 for which that person has already been convicted or acquitted by the Court.

3. No person who has been tried by another court for conduct also proscribed under article 6, 7, 8 or 8 bis shall be tried by the Court with respect to the same conduct unless the proceedings in the other court:

(a) Were for the purpose of shielding the person concerned from criminal responsibility for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court; or

(b) Otherwise were not conducted independently or impartially in accordance with the norms of due process recognized by international law and were conducted in a manner which, in the circumstances, was inconsistent with an intent to bring the person concerned to justice.

Article 89 Surrender of persons to the Court

2. Where the person sought for surrender brings a challenge before a national court on the basis of the principle of ne bis in idem as provided in article 20, the requested State shall immediately consult with the Court to determine if there has been a relevant ruling on admissibility. If the case is admissible, the requested State shall proceed with the execution of the request. If an admissibility ruling is pending, the requested State may postpone the execution of the request for surrender of the person until the Court makes a determination on admissibility.