A YouTube video claims that four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), including one involved in the investigation of violation of human rights charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte, have been jailed. This is false.
While the United States (U.S.) did impose sanctions on four female ICC judges, it only froze their assets and property interests in that country, and not imprisonment.
Uploaded on June 6, the video’s headline read:
“4 JUDGE NG ICC KULONG! DELUBYO PARA KAY BBM! DUTERTE IRE-RELEASE AYON SA DUTCH LAW
(4 judges of ICC jailed! Nightmare for BBM. Duterte to be released according to Dutch law).”
Its thumbnail also bore the text: “4 NA JUDGE NG ICC KULONG! PANIBAGONG KASO NG U.S (4 judges of ICC jailed! New case in the U.S.).”
The U.S. State Department announced on June 5 that it sanctioned ICC judges Solomy Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza of Peru, Beti Hohler of Slovenia, and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin, for their investigation of alleged war crimes committed by the U.S. and Israel.
Alapini-Gansou is a member of ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I, which handles the proceedings on Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity.
The sanctions, based on Executive Order No. 14203 issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, did not order the judges’ arrest or imprisonment. It only blocked their assets and property interests within the U.S. and its territories.
In response to this, the ICC called the U.S. government’s actions “a clear attempt to undermine their independence.“
There is also no truth that Duterte will be released from ICC detention according to Dutch law.
Vice President Sara Duterte said her father’s legal team is looking into domestic laws of The Netherlands to secure his release, but did not specify what particular law or legal remedy they would use.
Uploaded by YouTube channel Robin Sweet Showbiz, the erroneous video received 37,705 interactions.
