NEW : Jean - Pierre Bemba used his ` ` to rape , pillage and kill civilians , '' prosecutors say . Court : His defense says he was not responsible . `` Today , he is brought to account for deliberately failing to prevent , repress or punish mass atrocities committed by his men '' in the central African nation , he said . The court has rejected an appeal by prosecutors . He is accused of leading his militia in attacks on civilians in the capital for almost five months .
NEW : Jean - Pierre Bemba used his ` ` to rape , pillage and kill civilians , '' prosecutors say . Court : His defense says he was not responsible . The court has rejected an appeal by prosecutors . He is accused of leading his militia in attacks on civilians in the capital for almost five months .