On 22nd March 2017, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jean-Pierre Bemba, was handed a further one-year sentence by the International Criminal Court (ICC) after he was found guilty of trying to influence witnesses in his war crimes trial. This sentence is the first corruption trial in the history of ICC.

Bemba 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 neighboring nation of Central African Republic (CAR) between 2002 and 2003. He appealed against his conviction in September 2016.

ICC judges heard how Bemba had masterminded a witness corruption network from inside his prison cell, aided by four close associates. 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.

Read more at Ibtimes