18.05.09 - RWANDA/GACACA - GACACA: EX-ARMY OFFICER ACQUITTED ON APPEAL

Kigali, 18 May 2009 (FH) - An officer of former Rwandan Army who had been found guilty of participating in the 1994 Tutsi genocide, was acquitted last Friday on appeal trial, reports Hirondelle Agency.

"Lieutenant Daniel Ufitikirezi was acquitted, due to lack of evidence. None of the five counts of indictment against him were retained", according to a military source who requested for anonymity.

The lieutenant, who had joined the new Rwandan army after the genocide, was tried by the semi-traditional Gacaca Court of the Bugeshi sector, in the former prefecture of Gisenyi, northern Rwanda.

He was arrested in April after being tried in absentia and sentenced to life in prison.

The lieutenant must, however, still appear before a gacaca court, in another commune, for other facts in connection with the 1994 genocide.

After having joined the new army, Ufitikirezi had initially served at the General Staff, before being attached to an engineering company of the ministry of defence.

SRE/ER/MM/SC

© Hirondelle News Agency

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