HASSAN NGEZE TO STAND TRIAL ON AMENDED INDICTMENT

Arusha, November 11th, '99 (FH) - Hassan Ngeze, former editor of the extremist newspaper Kangura, is to stand trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on the basis of an amended indictment. In its decision announced on November 5th, the ICTR authorised the prosecutor to make amendments to the initial indictment served on Ngeze, in particular to re-introduce the count of genocide.

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The prosecution will also be adding new counts for conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity (for extermination. Hassan Ngeze was originally accused of genocide but the count was disallowed by the Swedish judge Lennart Aspegren who confirmed the initial indictment served in September 1997. Judge Aspegren considered that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence to back up the charge at the time. Arguing in support of the October 18th amendment motion, trial attorney Alphonse Van told the court that investigations carried out since the initial appearance of the accused had resulted in " a more precise idea of the criminal behaviour of Hassan Ngeze" "Mr Ngeze is no ordinary Rwandan citizen. He took part in the implementation of a criminal policy designed to exterminate the minority Tutsi population" continued Alphonse Van. The prosecution alleges that Hassan Ngeze conspired with fellow journalist and former director of Radio-télévision libre des mille collines (RTLM), Ferdinand Nahimana, and the former director of foreign affairs Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, also a member of the RTLM board. Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza was released on November 3rd by the appeals chamber. Hassan Ngeze, 38, was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya on July 18, 1997 and transferred on the same day to the ICTR detention facility in Arusha. He is represented by a lawyer from Congo Brazzaville, Ms Patricia Annick Mongo. CR/PHD/FH(NG§1111E)