Rodrigo Duterte suffering \u2018significant memory impairment\u2019:\nDefence<\/p>\n
Judges are weighing whether former Philippine president Rodrigo\nDuterte is mentally fit to face charges of crimes against humanity\nbefore the International Criminal Court.<\/p>\n
THE HAGUE: Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is suffering\nfrom major memory loss that means he sometimes forgets his lawyer\u2019s\nname, according to the defence team preparing his case at the\nInternational Criminal Court.<\/p>\n
The 81-year-old Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity at\nthe ICC over his so-called \u201cwar on drugs\u201d during which thousands were\nkilled, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
His trial is scheduled to start on Nov 30, but judges are weighing\nwhether he is mentally fit to be tried and have ordered a medical\nassessment by three experts.<\/p>\n
That assessment has not been made public, but Duterte\u2019s defence and\nthe ICC prosecutor reacted to it in documents dated Sep 14 but published\non the ICC website on Tuesday (Sep 15).<\/p>\n
Duterte \u201csuffers from significant memory impairment that prevents him\nfrom retaining recent information and reliably accessing memories\u201d, the\n13-page defence submission said.<\/p>\n
This makes it impossible to engage with the case \u201clet alone give\nproper instructions to his Lead Counsel, whose name he only sometimes\nremembers\u201d, said his chief defence lawyer, Peter Haynes.<\/p>\n
Haynes said he was being forced to prepare the case without\nmeaningful input from his client.<\/p>\n
The prosecution, in their heavily redacted seven-page submission,\nconcluded Duterte was \u201ccapable of meaningfully exercising his procedural\nand fair trial rights, and that he is fit for trial\u201d.<\/p>\n
Under ICC rules, proceedings cannot continue if an accused is unable\nto understand the charges or participate meaningfully in his\ndefence.<\/p>\n
Since his arrest and transfer to The Hague, where the court is based,\nDuterte has been seen only once at an initial appearance via a video\nlink.<\/p>\n
He appeared dazed and confused, mumbling to confirm his name and\nseeming to doze off during proceedings.<\/p>\n
His defence team has since applied for him to be absent on health\ngrounds at subsequent hearings.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Joanna Korner has urged him to make an appearance at\na pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, and no defence application for an\nexemption has been made public.<\/p>\n
This means Duterte could appear in person at the ICC, the first\nformer Asian head of state to do so.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rodrigo-duterte-suffering-significant-memory-impairment-defence-1789480212", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }