Author Nicholas Kaufmann gets mistaken for Duterte's lead counsel in ICC case, asks Pinoys to stop messaging him online
American author Nicholas Kaufmann asked Filipinos to stop messaging him on social media as he noted he has been mistaken for former president Rodrigo Duterte's lead counsel at the International Criminal Court.
In a Facebook post, the author of horror and fiction novels appealed to Pinoy Internet users to stop flooding his inbox, clarifying that he is not Nicholas Kaufman, who is part of Duterte's defense team in his crimes against humanity case.
“People of the Philippines, I am not the ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman who is representing [former] president Duterte! Please stop messaging me!” he wrote in a March 21 post, which has garnered over 5,000 “Haha” reactions as of writing.
In another Facebook post on Tuesday, April 1, Kaufmann shared that he’s being "flooded with followers and commenters from the Philippines who I guess don't believe I'm not Duterte's lawyer.”
“Our names aren't even spelled the same (he's Kaufman with one N). It's insane!” he wrote.
“Nearly 700 people have reacted to my pinned post explaining that I am not Duterte's ICC defense lawyer, and yet I still get hundreds of followers from the Philippines EVERY HOUR!” he commented on his own post.
His friends also teased him and joked about the matter in the comments section.
“That’s exactly what we’d expect you to say!” a Facebook user commented, to which Kaufmann replied, “I'd be making a lot more money if I were a criminal defense lawyer!
“I mean. Lean into it and you’d get a free trip to Holland. I hear the strudel is great,” another one joked. Kaufmann replied, “Maybe I can apply for asylum while I'm there!”
Kaufmann is an American author in the genre of horror fiction and adventure fiction. His works include fantasy-horror General Slocum’s Gold, the Thriller Award-nominated and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated Chasing the Dragon, Dr. Laura Powell series, among others.
Kaufman, meanwhile, is a British-Israeli lawyer who was appointed as Duterte’s defense lead counsel at the ICC. He has over three decades of experience in international criminal law and has represented high-profile businessmen and politicians, including former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and former Central African Republic minister Maxime Mokom.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 following a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC via the International Criminal Police Organization. He has been accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."
Specifically, he was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019 during his term as president.
Duterte arrived in The Hague on March 12 to face the charges against him.
He could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
Kaufman revealed that Duterte's defense team is working on his interim release before the ICC. If it were approved, he said there wouldn't be a confirmation of charges anymore on Sept. 23.
If the charges against Duterte were confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
