Press release in the case of Mr Blé Goudé
Opened since 28 January 2016, the trial of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court against Mr. Charles Blé Goudé ended on 31 March 2021 with the confirmation of the 15 January 2019 decision, which acquitted the accused.
On the basis of Article 85 (3) of the Rome Statute, which provides that in exceptional circumstances, where the Court finds that a grave and manifest miscarriage of justice has occurred, the judges may, at their discretion, award compensation to an acquitted person after his detention, Mr. Charles Blé Goudé, after consultation with his lawyers, filed a request for compensation before the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) on 09 September 2021.
Mr. Charles Blé Goudé noted the numerous failures of the Office of the Prosecutor that have violated his fundamental rights. To this day, he continues to suffer the consequences of the violation of his human rights since, despite his acquittal, Mr. Charles Blé Goudé is forced to live outside his country as a stateless person.
In filing this compensation request before the ICC, Mr. Charles Blé Goudé knows very well that no financial compensation will ever be able to adequately compensate him for the heavy moral and psychological damage he suffered, as well as the years he spent unjustly in detention.
However, Mr. Charles Blé Goudé hopes that his case can serve as an example to call the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC to greater responsibility; this linchpin of international justice, in the exercise of its mission, should not pursue pre-constructed cases, which are unconvincing, and not based on evidence.
Finally, Mr. Charles Blé Goudé promises that if the Court grants his request, he will use part of this compensation to help the victims of the post-election crisis in his country.
For further information, the defense of Mr. Charles Blé Goudé is at your complete disposal.
The Hague, 09 September 2021
G.G.J.A. Knoops, conseil principal
C.N. Kouadio, co-conseil