25.08.09 - ICTR/NSHOGOZA - NSHOGOZA: RWANDAN LAWYER CONVICTED FOR CONTEMPT OF UN COURT APPEALS

Arusha, 25 August 2009 (FH) - A Rwandan lawyer convicted last month for contempt of court before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has appealed his judgement, reports Hirondelle Agency.

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On 2 July, Leonidas Nshogoza of the Bar of Kigali, was found guilty of knowingly and deliberately defied the authority of the Tribunal while meeting "on several occasions", between March 2004 and May 2005, witnesses for the prosecutor who were the subject of protection measures.

Sentenced to 10 months in prison, he was immediately released because he had just spent more than a year at the ICTR detention centre.

According to Tribunal website, the convict filed a notice of appeal on 22 July.

According to the judgement, Nshogoza was found guilty of contempt of the Tribunal as he worked as an investigator within the defence team of the former Minister for Higher Education Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, convicted of genocide.

At the ICTR, a party which wishes to meet "protected witnesses" from the opposing side must initially request the permission from the Chamber.

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© Hirondelle News Agency