20.04.09 - RWANDA/GACACA - GACACA: MAN MYSTERIOUSLY ESCAPES AFTER CONVICTED FOR GENOCIDE

Kigali, 20 April 2009 (FH) - A Kigali resident who had been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide, mysteriously disappeared after the judgement and  authorities have launched a manhunt, reports Hirondelle Agency.

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Mohamed Rugirigabo, convicted for crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity, escaped after the verdict Saturday by the Gacaca court of Nyakabanda sector, in the Rwandan capital.

"After the judgement, I discovered the convict had already fled..." President of the court, Philibert Munyandinda, told Hirondelle Agency.

Rugirigabo was also found guilty of complicity in several murders in 1994 in Nyamirambo, another district of Kigali.

The bench had concluded that Rugirigabo had armed the notorious militiamen during the slaughter, 15 years ago.

"An investigation is on going over the escape", a police source said.

SRE/ER/MM/SC

© Hirondelle News Agency