ICC convicts Central African Republic rebel leader of crimes against humanity

The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted former Central African Republic rebel commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani on four counts of crimes against humanity including torture and unlawful imprisonment. The ICC found that Said, 56, oversaw beatings and maltreatment as head of a feared prison unit as the CAR spiralled into civil war in 2013. Wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans, Said shook his head multiple times in the courtroom as presiding judge Miatta Maria Samba detailed the crimes. The ICC will deliver a sentence for the crimes at a later date. Said was also acquitted of three counts of war crimes. Watch more'Sanctions won’t prevent us from doing our job' says ICC Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang Said ran the Central Office for the Repression of Banditry (OCRB) detention centre in the capital Bangui where horrific acts of torture and deprivation were inflicted on prisoners. Samba said a frequently used torture method was "arbatachar", in which prisoners' hands, elbows, and feet were tied tightly together behind their backs. Others were beaten with ropes and whips, and doused in water, said Samba. The court acknowledged the suffering and trauma of the victims, who test...