Former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba has filed a €68 million ($76.5 million) compensation claim against the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging the court allowed his assets to deteriorate during his decade-long detention.
Bemba's legal team argued in a court document that his properties—including seven aircraft, three Portuguese villas, and land in the DRC—were left to decay while he remained imprisoned in The Hague. The claim follows his 2018 acquittal on war crimes charges related to his private army's actions in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003.
While the ICC upheld a conviction for witness tampering, Bemba's lawyers asserted his detention violated the Rome Statute. "An innocent man lost 10 years of his life," stated attorney Peter Haynes, who emphasized the financial and personal toll of the proceedings.
The compensation request coincides with growing scrutiny of the ICC, which has faced criticism after high-profile acquittals including that of former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo. Haynes noted the claim amount is less than half the court's annual budget but indicated Bemba would redirect part of any awarded funds to support victims in the Central African Republic.
Haynes defended the claim under the Rome Statute, stating the ICC bears responsibility for managing seized assets. "It's not Mr. Bemba's fault if the court failed to secure insurance for its liabilities," he added.
