Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
PART 8.
APPEAL AND REVISION
Article 81
Appeal against decision of acquittal or conviction or against sentence
1.
A decision under article 74 may be appealed in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence as
follows:
(a)
(b)
2.
3.
4.
The Prosecutor may make an appeal on any of the following grounds:
(i)
Procedural error,
(ii)
Error of fact, or
(iii)
Error of law;
The convicted person, or the Prosecutor on that person's behalf, may make an appeal on any of the
following grounds:
(i)
Procedural error,
(ii)
Error of fact,
(iii)
Error of law, or
(iv)
Any other ground that affects the fairness or reliability of the proceedings or decision.
(a)
A sentence may be appealed, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, by the
Prosecutor or the convicted person on the ground of disproportion between the crime and the
sentence;
(b)
If on an appeal against sentence the Court considers that there are grounds on which the conviction
might be set aside, wholly or in part, it may invite the Prosecutor and the convicted person to
submit grounds under article 81, paragraph 1 (a) or (b), and may render a decision on conviction in
accordance with article 83;
(c)
The same procedure applies when the Court, on an appeal against conviction only, considers that
there are grounds to reduce the sentence under paragraph 2 (a).
(a)
Unless the Trial Chamber orders otherwise, a convicted person shall remain in custody pending
an appeal;
(b)
When a convicted person's time in custody exceeds the sentence of imprisonment imposed, that
person shall be released, except that if the Prosecutor is also appealing, the release may be subject to
the conditions under subparagraph (c) below;
(c)
In case of an acquittal, the accused shall be released immediately, subject to the following:
(i)
Under exceptional circumstances, and having regard, inter alia, to the concrete risk of flight, the
seriousness of the offence charged and the probability of success on appeal, the Trial Chamber,
at the request of the Prosecutor, may maintain the detention of the person pending appeal;
(ii)
A decision by the Trial Chamber under subparagraph (c) (i) may be appealed in accordance
with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 (a) and (b), execution of the decision or sentence shall be suspended
during the period allowed for appeal and for the duration of the appeal proceedings.
Article 82
Appeal against other decisions
1.
Either party may appeal any of the following decisions in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and
Evidence:
(a)
A decision with respect to jurisdiction or admissibility;
(b)
A decision granting or denying release of the person being investigated or prosecuted;
(c)
A decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber to act on its own initiative under article 56, paragraph 3;
(d)
A decision that involves an issue that would significantly affect the fair and expeditious conduct of
the proceedings or the outcome of the trial, and for which, in the opinion of the Pre-Trial or Trial
Chamber, an immediate resolution by the Appeals Chamber may materially advance the proceedings.
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