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                 ICC Drops Case Against Kenyan Violence Suspect

   by VOA News

   The lead prosecutor at the International Criminal Court has dropped
   charges against a prominent Kenyan accused of helping to organize
   post-election violence in early 2008.

   Fatou Bensouda said Monday that she is withdrawing charges against
   Francis Muthaura, a former Kenyan cabinet secretary, and the co-accused
   in the case of Kenyan president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta.

   Bensouda said there was not a reasonable prospect Muthaura would be
   convicted at trial.

   She said a key witness in the case recanted part of his evidence and
   admitted to accepting bribes, while other potential witnesses have died
   or are too afraid to testify. She also said the Kenyan government
   failed to provide important evidence.

   Bensouda emphasized the decision to drop charges against Muthaura does
   not affect other cases. Kenyatta and two other Kenyans still face
   charges of helping to orchestrate ethnic violence in early 2008 that
   killed more than 1,100 people.

   Prosecutors say the president-elect is responsible for crimes against
   humanity, including murder, rape, and forcible transfer.

   Kenyatta's trial at the ICC is scheduled to begin in July.

   On Saturday, he was declared the winner of last week's Kenyan
   presidential election with 50.07 percent of the vote, just enough to
   avoid a run-off. Runner-up Raila Odinga has said he will challenge the
   result in court.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/icc-prosecutor-drops-case-against-pro
   minent-kenyan/1619209.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/icc-prosecutor-drops-case-against-prominent-kenyan/1619209.html