The prosecutor of the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal presented evidence on Tuesday that a Congolese warlord forced children into his army, and kept them there with promises of wealth and weapons.
Thomas Lubanga, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, had "final power on all questions" whether they were military, political or judicial -- even after his imprisonment in Kinshasa, last year, said prosecutor Florence Darques Lane.
Lubanga is the first -- and so far only -- suspect in custody at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Darques Lane cited testimony from a 14-year-old boy, allegedly recruited by force in February 2003.
The boy "was taken to a car where Thomas Lubanga and other soldiers were sitting," she said. "Other children were caught.
Thomas Lubanga told them they would go as far as Beni (in north-eastern DRC) and they would become rich," Darques Lane added. Tuesday's testimony is part of a pre-trial hearing to determine whether Lubanga will eventually stand trial before the court.
Lubanga, 45, is charged with abducting children under the age of 15 and forcing them to participate in attacks by the armed wing of his political Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) during wars that ravaged the DRC. He has denied the accusations.
Darques Lane cited a report by Radio Okapi, of the UN's peacekeeping mission in DRC, in which Lubanga allegedly invited families "to participate in the war effort by either giving a cow, or money or a child to join the ranks of the Patriotic Liberation Forces of Congo.
Considered the armed wing of Lubanga's UPC, the group is suspected of a long series of crimes against humanity in the Ituri region of north-eastern DRC.
She also presented several videos, including one showing Lubanga encouraging young recruits at a training camp.
"You'll receive weapons, you'll protect residents," Lubanga says in the clip. "It's a work of great importance, before men and before God."
Inter-ethnic clashes in Ituri, and violence between militias seeking control of gold mines and other natural resources, have left 60,000 dead since 1999, according to humanitarian groups.
The confirmation hearing is scheduled to run through November 28, after which the judges must determine whether Lubanga will become the first person to stand trial before the ICC. Their decision is expected late January.