27.04.09 - RWANDA/GACACA - GACACA: ARMY OFFICER ON THE RUN FOR GENOCIDE FINALLY ARRESTED

Kigali, 27 April 2009 (FH) - A Rwandan lieutenant, who has been on the run, has been finally arrested last Saturday, a month after his judgment in absentia for his role in the1994 genocide, reports Hirondelle Agency.

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Lieutenant Daniel Ufitikirezi was sentenced to life in prison in March after being found guilty of participation in the genocide of Tutsis in the former commune of Rubavu, north-western Rwanda.

"We received an arrest warrant issued by a gacaca court. Our duty is to carry out his arrest", an anonymous military source said.

The officer was sentenced by a gacaca court of Bugeshi, Rubavu district, northern Rwanda.

Ufitikirezi had integrated into the new Rwandan army after the defeat in July 1994 of the former forces, of which he was part of it at the time of the facts and was tried and sentenced.

After having joined the new army, Lieutenant Ufitikirezi was initially used for the service of the political affairs of the General Staff.

At the time of his arrest, he worked in an engineering company.

He is currently detained at the military prison of Mulindi, in the suburbs of Kigali.

SRE/ER/MM/SC

© Hirondelle News Agency