18.11.11 - WEEKLY SUMMARY - TRIBUNAL SENTENCES EX-MAYOR 15 YEARS JAIL TERM, BEMBA CASE CONTINUES

18 November 2011 By

Arusha, November 18, 2011 (FH) - The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) this week sentenced former Rwandan mayor, Gregoire Ndahimana to 15 years imprisonment whereas the prosecution case of the former Congolese rebel leader, Jean Pierre Bemba continued before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

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ICTR

Ndahimana sentenced to 15 years imprisonment: The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Thursday sentenced former Rwandan mayor Gregoire Ndahimana to 15-years imprisonment after finding him guilty of genocide and extermination as crime against humanity. Ndahimana, 59, was Mayor of Kivumu commune in Kibuye prefecture, Western Rwanda. He allegedly planned with others the massacres of Tutsis at Nyange Church in his commune between April 14 and 16, 1994. The convict was found guilty of genocide and extermination by aiding and abetting as well as by virtue of his command responsibility over the communal police.

Prosecution granted extra witnesses in Ngirabatware case: The UN court this week also, allowed the prosecution to call eight extra witnesses to challenge the defence of alibi for former Rwandan Planning Minister Augustin Ngirabatware that he was not in Rwanda as of April 23 to May 23, 1994. The Chamber ordered the prosecution to present its rebuttal witnesses immediately after the close of the defence case expected in the first quarter of 2012. The defence hearing resumes on January 30, 2012. Three witnesses have remained to testify for Ngirabatware.

Rwanda/Netherlands: District court in The Hague, ruled that genocide suspect Yvonne Ntacyobatabara (Basebya) should remain in custody while investigation in her case are still ongoing. Three judges decided during the pre-trial hearing that ‘' charges against her are the gravest in international law,'' and that they could not grant her a temporary release. The trial is scheduled to commence next April.

ICC

Continuation of Bemba's trial: The trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba resumed Monday with the prosecution presenting another witness code-named 213. The witness testified about the accused visit to Central Africa and most part of the evidence was heard in closed session. Bemba, a Congolese senator and leader of Movement for Liberation of Congo, is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003.

NI/ER/GF