Katanga Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison

However, the six years he spent in prison will be deducted from the 12 year sentence.

Katanga was found guilty in March 2014 making him the second person to be sentenced by the ICC since it opened 12 years ago.

Katanga has been senteced to 12 years in prison for aiding and abetting war crimes.

Also known as Simba which means lion, Katanga allegedly led an attack in gold rich Ituri which resulted in the deaths of at least 200 civilians, sexually enslaving women and girls, and imprisoning survivors.

However, he was cleared of direct involvement.

In 2005, he was arrested by Congolese authorities in connection with the killing of nine United Nations peacekeepers.

He was held without charge until his transfer to the ICC in October 2007.

The prosecution and defense have both appealed against the judges’ decision.

Katanga will be held in detention until at The Hague until the results of the appeals come out.

By Cecilia Garama

Source: BBC News