Portugal Seizes Bemba’s Property at ICC Request

Bruce Zagaris

"At the request of the International Criminal Court, the Portuguese government has seized the property of former Congolese vice-president, Senator Jean-Pierre Bemba.

The Portuguese Public Prosecutor’s Office seized a villa estimated at 2.5 million euros as well as two up-market cars, one plane, and one yacht. Both the yacht and a private aircraft were in the Algarve, the stylish Portugese southern coast.

A communique stated that officials also seized important documents in the course of investigations conducted by the ICC on atrocities committed in the Central African Republic by the forces of the former Congolese vice president while he commanded the Congolese Liberation (MLC), at the time a rebel group fought against the Congolese government...[more]"