Nicholas Kaufman, Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Lawyer, Submits New Filing to ICC
Duterte’s Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) in his recent filing to adjourn all legal proceedings indefinitely.
After Nicholas Kaufman, the lawyer of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, expressed his hope that the Marcos Jr. administration will allow his client to return home to the Philippines, the ICC revealed the recent filing made by the former Philippine President’s camp just three (3) days after the confirmation of charges was announced postponed.
Kaufman claimed that his client is ‘unfit to stand trial’. Thus, the ICC ruled to postpone the confirmation of charges of former Pres. Duterte which was initially set on September 23. The former Philippine President is detained under the custody of the ICC for more than five (5) months now.
Duterte is faced with an accusation of crimes against humanity over the drug war of his administration. His arrest and the transfer of his custody to the ICC has divided the once solid Duterte-Marcos supporters back to the opposite sides of the road. The former President maintained that everything he did when he was president was allegedly for the country and the Filipino people.
The Duterte family took turns in visiting the former President inside the detention facility of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. It was only a few weeks ago within five (5) months that all four (4) children of the former President were allowed to visit him altogether which seemed like a Duterte family reunion inside the ICC detention facility. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that it was really her father’s request and he’s happy.
However, a few days after the said visit, the Vice President claimed that the ICC barred them from disclosing information about their visits to her father inside the ICC detention facility. In a recent filing made three (3) days after the ICC ruled to postpone the confirmation of charges hearing, Duterte’s lawyer requested the foreign court to adjourn all legal proceedings indefinitely.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman cited that his client is suffering from ‘cognitive impairment in multiple domains’. He stressed that the former President’s mental condition allegedly renders him unfit to stand trial.
“Mr Duterte’s condition will not improve and, for this reason, the Pre-Trial Chamber must adjourn all legal proceedings in his case indefinitely,” Duterte’s lawyer stated.
Furthermore, based on the report, Nicholas Kaufman also stated in his latest filing that no further medical examination on former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is necessary. According to him, their camp has already submitted extensive medical information. Duterte’s lawyer also noted that they have regularly updated the Chamber about the “deteriorating cognitive condition” of his client.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte celebrated his 80th birthday inside the ICC detention facility. His camp previously renewed their application for the interim release of the former President. In his hope that the Marcos Jr. admin will allow the former President to return to the country, Duterte’s lawyer hopes that the current admin will allows his client to spend his interim release in PH until the end of all legal proceedings.
Lucas Bersamin, the executive secretary of Marcos Jr., reacted to the plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer over his client’s return to PH.