WITNESS ACCUSES INVESTIGATORS OF TAKING DOWN WRONG RECORDS

Arusha, February 27, 2004 (FH) - The 34th prosecution witness in the so called “Butare trial” which groups six genocide suspects at theInternational Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) alleged that investigators who interviewed him in 1995 did not record his written statements correctly. The witness code-named EV to conceal his identity made the allegation during cross examination by Pierre Boulé, counsel for former mayor of Muganza commune, Elie Ndayambaje who is one of the accused in this trial.

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Boulé told the witness while pointing out three different written statements that nowhere in those statements did he say he saw Ndayambaje armed and shooting at refugees at Kabuye hill, as he said during his oral testimony. “ I think it was the investigators error because I told them so,” EV replied. He elaborated that they might have done that for their own good and said that sometimes judicial police in Rwanda could be corrupted and change issues . Two of the statements were recorded by Rwandan judicial police and the other one by ICTR investigators. Counsel Boulé was still pointing out other contradictions between written and oral statements made by witness EV when the chamber went in closed session and did not come back in open session until the witness had concluded his testimony. The trial continues next Monday with another prosecution witness whose name was not revealed in open session. Other accused in this trial include former minister of Family and Women Affairs, Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, her son and militia leader, Arsene ShalomNtahobali, two former prefects of Butare Sylvain Nsabimana and Alphonse Nteziryayo and former Mayor of Ngoma commune Joseph Kanyabashi. The trial is taking place in Trial Chamber Two of the ICTR composed of Judges William Hussein Sekule of Tanzania (presiding), Judge Arlette Ramaroson from Madagascar and Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda. NI/CE/FH (BT''0227e)