A former warlord and ex-vice-president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been sentenced by the international criminal court to a year in jail and fined €300,000 (£260,000) for bribing witnesses during an earlier war crimes trial at the ICC.

Jean-Pierre Bemba is already serving an 18-year sentence for war crimes committed by his marauding troops, which he sent into Central African Republic in 2002-03 to put down a coup against the then president.

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Wednesday’s verdict and sentence are the first of their kind in the history of the ICC. Bemba, 54, was convicted of masterminding a network to bribe and manipulate at least 14 key witnesses, and had “planned, authorised, and approved the illicit coaching” of the witnesses to get them to lie at his main trial.

The presiding judge, Bertram Schmitt, told Bemba the “substantial fine” was necessary “to discourage this kind of behaviour”.

The year-long sentence will run consecutively to his 18 years’ jail time.

Members of Bemba’s legal team also received jail terms. Aime Kilolo, his lawyer, received the heaviest sentence among four of the former vice-president’s associates: two years and six months for “abuse of trust” as well as “abuse of the lawyer-client privilege”. Kilolo, who was arrested in 2013, was also ordered to pay a €30,000 fine.

Set up in 2002 to prosecute the world’s worst crimes, the ICC makes significant – if not always successful – efforts to try to protect witnesses and its trials from any interference.

In 2015, the ICC was forced to drop charges against Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta, who had been accused of stoking ethnic violence after Kenya’s 2007 presidential election.

Prosecutors blamed their failure to put Kenyatta on trial on political interference and massive interference with witnesses, especially after Kenyatta was elected president in 2013. In April, charges against Kenyatta’s deputy, William Ruto, were also dropped for similar reasons.

“The type of sentence, whether heavy or light, will send a clear message about the gravity of the crime,” said Mariana Pena, from the Open Society Justice Initiative, an international law advocacy group.

Bemba became the third person convicted by the controversial “court of last resort” and his main trial was the first before the ICC to focus on sexual violence as a weapon of war, and the first to find a military commander to blame for the atrocities perpetrated by forces even though he did not order them.

A series of rapes, murders and atrocities were committed in CAR between October 2002 and March 2003 by troops from Bemba’s Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC). The judges said Bemba could at any point have ended his militia’s five-month rampage, but chose not to.

A wealthy businessman who became a key player in the chaotic civil war in Congo between 1998 and 2002, Bemba rose to be one of four vice-presidents in the transitional government of DRC’s president, Joseph Kabila. In 2006, he lost to Kabila in a presidential election runoff and fled to Europe. He was arrested in 2008 in Brussels and handed over to the ICC.

His MLC militia has since morphed into a political party and is currently the second-largest opposition group in the national assembly.

Some analysts have said the conviction of Bemba merely highlighted the failure of ICC to punish anyone for the widespread and systematic human rights abuses committed by militia in DRC itself.

The vast central African country remains mired in violence and political instability. Kabila has stayed in power despite his electoral mandate expiring in December last year. The government and a fragmented opposition have failed to come to a deal despite months of negotiations, though there remain hopes new polls may be held later this year.

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There is also rising unrest in the centre and east of DRC, raising fears of regional intervention and a possible return to civil war.

The ICC has repeatedly faced criticism by some in Africa who regard it as racist or imperialist. Burundi, South Africa and the Gambia have announced plans to leave the court, leading to concerns other states would follow.

In a boost for the ICC, however, Adama Barrow, the new democratically elected president of the Gambia, recently reversed that decision – made by Yahya Jammeh, the west African state’s former authoritarian leader – while the South African government was forced to abandon its notice of withdrawal after a judge found it unconstitutional.</s>Jailed ex-VP of the Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced to an additional year in prison for corruption by the ICC.

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have added a year to Jean-Pierre Bemba's 18-year jail term following the former Congolese vice president's conviction for attempting to bribe witnesses during his war crimes trial.

After a second trial on the separate charges, Bemba on Wednesday was also ordered to pay a 300,000 euro ($323,670) fine to the court's fund supporting victims of atrocities.

Found guilty last year of bribery, the verdict and sentence are the first of their kind in the history of the ICC.

"The chamber imposes on you an additional 12 months, one year, imprisonment," presiding judge Bertram Schmitt told Bemba, adding a "substantial fine" was necessary "to discourage this kind of behaviour".

Several of the court's cases against prominent and powerful politicians have been weakened by witness bribery.

The decision to bring bribery charges against Bemba and four members of his legal team was seen by criminal law experts as a sign that prosecutors had decided to get tough on a practice that threatened their ability to prosecute the gravest crimes.

Bemba is appealing his conviction last year on charges of having committed war crimes by allowing his forces to go on a murderous rampage through the neighbouring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.

His former lead lawyer, Aime Kilolo, was given a 30,000 euro fine and a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence. Three others were given either suspended jail terms or sentenced to time served.

Judges gave prosecutors and the defence 30 days to lodge an appeal.</s>THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - A former Congolese vice president was sentenced Wednesday to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) for interfering with witnesses in his trial at the International Criminal Court.

Jean-Pierre Bemba, who already is serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded, was sentenced along with four members of the legal team.

They were convicted in October of offenses including corruptly influencing defense witnesses and presenting false testimony in Bemba's trial linked to atrocities in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003.

Aime Kilolo Musamba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, left, greets his lawyer prior to hearing the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)

The four members of the legal team were given sentences ranging from six months to 2 1/2 years. They all faced maximum sentences of five years.

Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt said the sentences should act as a deterrent to prevent similar crimes in the future.

Prosecutors said in a statement that they would study the ruling and decide whether to appeal. Defense lawyers also can appeal.

The prosecutors stressed that bringing charges focused on allegations of attempting to corrupt trials was important for the institution as it seeks to bring to justice perpetrators of atrocities around the world.

"The Court's mandate is too important and its proceedings cannot be allowed to be derailed by such offenses against the administration of justice," the prosecution statement said.

Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo wipes his face in the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)

Aime Kilolo Musamba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, left, talks to his lawyer in the court room prior to hearing the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)

Aime Kilolo Musamba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, center, talks to his lawyer in the court room prior to hearing the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)

Fidele Babala Wandu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo sits in the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)

Fidele Babala Wandu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, center, takes his seat in the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)

Narcisse Arido of of the Central African Republic, left, sits in the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial. Bemba is already serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen POOL via AP)</s>File: Former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba, already serving time for war crimes, will be sentenced again on Wednesday for witness tampering. Photo: AFP / Jerry Lampen

THE HAGUE - Former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba and four associates will be sentenced on Wednesday for bribing witnesses during his war crimes trial, in the first such case before the International Criminal Court.

Hoping it will serve as a deterrent, prosecutors have asked for an eight-year sentence against Bemba, already serving 18 years for crimes committed by his marauding troops in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003.

"The type of sentence, whether heavy or light, will send a clear message about the gravity of the crime," said Mariana Pena, from the Open Society Justice Initiative, an international law advocacy group.

Prosecutors have recommended that Bemba, 54, be handed a new jail term "consecutive to his sentence in the main case".

They also asked judges to sentence Bemba's lawyer Aime Kilolo to eight years, his legal case manager Jean-Jacques Mangenda to seven, Narcisse Arido, a defence witness, to five years and Congolese lawmaker Fidele Babala to three.

The feared former rebel leader and his four associates were found guilty in October of bribing witnesses in what judges at the world war crimes court described as "clear and downright criminal behaviour".

The bribery verdict was the first of its kind in the ICC's history, and the charges were brought after a tip-off to the prosecutor's office.

Handing down their verdict, the judges said Bemba had tried to skew his main trial and had "planned, authorised, and approved the illicit coaching" of the witnesses.

Prosecutors said Bemba masterminded a network to bribe and manipulate at least 14 defence witnesses, persuading them to lie.

Set up in 2002 to prosecute the world's worst crimes, the ICC goes to great lengths to try to protect witnesses and its trials from any interference.

Pena told AFP that Wednesday's sentence could "dissuade some people from committing this type of crime", adding witness interference had already had an impact on some cases before the ICC.

The charges against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his vice-president, William Ruto, had to be abandoned by the ICC due to a lack of proof amid allegations of witness tampering.

Bemba was sentenced in June 2016 to 18 years in jail on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed when his troops went on a rampage in neighbouring CAR.

His main trial was the first before the ICC, based in The Hague, to focus on sexual violence as a weapon of war, and the first to find a military commander to blame for the atrocities perpetrated by forces even though he did not order them.

A chilling series of rapes, murders and atrocities were committed in the CAR between October 2002 to March 2003 by troops from Bemba's Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC).

After a lengthy trial which opened in November 2010, the judges found Bemba retained "effective command and control" over the 1,500 MLC troops he sent to CAR to quell an attempted coup against then president Ange-Felix Patasse.

Once a wealthy businessman-turned-warlord, Bemba became one of four vice-presidents in the transitional government of DR Congo President Joseph Kabila.

In 2006, he lost to Kabila in a presidential election run-off and fled to Europe. He was arrested in 2008 in Brussels and handed over to the ICC.

His MLC militia has since morphed into a political party and is currently the second-largest opposition group in the National Assembly.</s>Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to one year in prison by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the first corruption trial in the ICC's history after being found guilty of bribing witnesses.

The 53-year-old former warlord is already serving an 18-year jail term after he was found guilty by the ICC of five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in June last year for allowing his militia to commit mass murder, rape and pillage in the neighbouring nation of Central African Republic (CAR) between 2002 and 2003. He appealed against his conviction in September 2016.

On 22 March, Bemba was handed a one-year sentence after he found guilty of trying to influence witnesses in his war crimes trial.

ICC judges heard how Bemba had masterminded a witness corruption network from inside his prison cell, aided by four close associates – Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido.

The group used secret phones and coded language to bribe, advise and manipulate witnesses who came to give evidence at the ICC.

Bemba's lawyer, his legal case manager, a fellow politician and a witness for the defence were convicted on 19 October 2016 of corruptly influencing 14 key defence witnesses, and presenting their false testimonial evidence to the court during Bemba's war crimes trial.

The men were found guilty of more than 100 combined charges, and face up to five years in prison, a fine or both. Bemba's one year-sentence adds to his 18-year sentence.</s>Aime Kilolo Musamba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, left, greets his lawyer prior to hearing the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial.

Start the conversation, or Read more at SFGate.</s>Judges at the International Criminal Court Wednesday sentenced former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba to an additional year in prison for bribing witnesses during his earlier trial on war crimes.

In the latest case, Bemba and four members of his legal team were found guilty of bribing and otherwise influencing 14 defense witnesses to try to tilt the outcome of that first trial, which led to a conviction in March 2016 for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The new case began last October and was the ICC's first one dealing with witness tampering. Bemba's lawyer, Aime Kilolo, was given a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence as well as a $32,000 fine for his involvement.

Bemba is currently serving an 18-year term in connection with widespread abuses by his forces in the neighboring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003. Last year, judges ruled he was criminally responsible for acts of murder, rape and pillage carried out by his militia in the CAR. He was not only the first person convicted by a global war crimes court for crimes of sexual violence, but also the first to be held directly responsible for crimes committed by his soldiers.</s>THE HAGUE, March 22 (Reuters) - Judges at the International Criminal Court on Wednesday added a year to Jean-Pierre Bemba's 18-year jail term following the former Congolese vice president's conviction for attempting to bribe witnesses during his war crimes trial.

After a second trial on the separate charges, Bemba, who was vice president of Democratic Republic of Congo from 2003 to 2006, was ordered to pay a 300,000 euro fine to the court's fund supporting victims of atrocities.

His lawyer Aime Kilolo was given a 30,000 euro fine and a two-and-a-half year suspended prison sentence.

Bemba is appealing his conviction last year on charges of having committed war crimes by allowing his forces on a murderous rampage through the neighbouring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.</s>THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A former Congolese vice president was sentenced Wednesday to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros ($324,000) for interfering with witnesses in his trial at the International Criminal Court.

Jean-Pierre Bemba, who already is serving an 18-year prison term for crimes committed in Central African Republic by a militia he commanded, was sentenced along with four members of the legal team.

They were convicted in October of offenses including corruptly influencing defense witnesses and presenting false testimony in Bemba’s trial linked to atrocities in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003.

The four members of the legal team were given sentences ranging from six months to 2 1/2 years, but won’t go to prison as the sentences were either shorter than the time they spent in pre-trial custody or were suspended. They all faced maximum sentences of five years.

Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt said the sentences should act as a deterrent to prevent similar crimes in the future.

Bemba’s legal team, which already is appealing his conviction, said in a statement that it would also appeal the sentence, saying he was “sentenced on the basis of factual findings that are unsupported by direct evidence.”

Bemba remains in detention in The Hague pending the outcome of his appeals.

Prosecutors said in a statement that they would study the ruling and decide whether to appeal. The lawyers for the other defendants in the case also can appeal.

The prosecutors stressed that bringing charges focused on allegations of attempting to corrupt trials was important for the institution as it seeks to bring to justice perpetrators of atrocities around the world.

“The court’s mandate is too important and its proceedings cannot be allowed to be derailed by such offenses against the administration of justice,” the prosecution statement said.</s>Narcisse Arido of of the Central African Republic, left, sits in the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday March 22, 2017. Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has been sentenced to an extra year in prison and fined 300,000 euros along with four others for interfering with witnesses in his trial.

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Former Congolese Vice President and warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, sentenced last year by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to 18 years in prison for war crimes, is given an additional 12 months and fined 300,000 euros for bribing witnesses during an earlier ICC trial. The court also handed jail terms and fines for alleged interference in his trial to members of his legal team.