Veteran ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman to lead Duterte’s defense

British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has officially been appointed as former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lead defense counsel, the International Criminal Court announced on Wednesday.

On March 14, the ICC’s Registry received a signed letter from Duterte requesting to be represented by Kaufman. 

By March 17, the Registry met with the former president to officially appoint Kaufman as lead counsel. The lawyer accepted the mandate on the same day.

An ICC-accredited lawyer, Kaufman has over three decades of experience in international criminal law. He has represented high-profile businessmen and politicians, including former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and former Central African Republic minister Maxime Mokom.

Speaking to reporters at the ICC on Tuesday, Kaufman says to expect “a strong defense” as he “certainly hope[s]” to bring Duterte home. 

He added that they have yet to complete the rest of Duterte’s defense team.

Duterte first appeared before the ICC last Friday, where he was informed of the charges against him and his rights as a defendant. The confirmation of charges is scheduled for Sept. 23.