10.02.12 - SUMMARY - EARLY RELEASE FOR RUGAMBARARA, AISHA GADDAFI WANTS HER FATHER'S DEATH PROBED

Arusha, February 10, 2012 (FH) -The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) this week granted an early release to one of its convicts, whereas the daughter for Moammar Gaddafi requested for an international inquiry for deaths of her father and her brother.

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ICTR

ICTR grants early release to one of its convicts: The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Wednesday granted early release with immediate effect to former Rwandan mayor Juvenal Rugambarara, who has served more than three-quarters of an 11-year sentence for extermination as a crime against humanity. He is currently held in Benin, under an agreement with the Tribunal.   ICTR President, Judge Khalida Rachid Khan said in an order that a number of factors were considered in reaching the decision, including previous decisions on a similar matter, the time served in jail, the defendant's pleading guilty to the crime and expressed remorse, as well as his good behaviour in detention. This is the second time the ICTR has granted early release to a convict. The first similar order was issued in favour of Michel Bagaragaza, ex-head of the Rwandan Tea Authority, who was released on December 1, 2011 from the jail in Sweden where he was being held.

ICC

Gaddafi's daughter seeks for international inquiry over her father's death: In a letter sent on February 8 to the chairman of the United Nations' commission of inquiry on Libya, Aisha Gaddafi's lawyer, Nick Kaufman, requested a comprehensive, independent and international investigation on the death of her father and her brother Mo'tassim. She wants the inquiry to recommend that the ICC Prosecutor commence an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding their respective murders". Moammar Gaddafi and his son Mo'tassim were killed by rebel forces on October 20, 2011.

Bemba's trial continues: The prosecution in the trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba, Monday continued with presentation of its witnesses to support charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003. The nature of testimony for the witnesses could not be known because the trial of the Congolese senator and leader of Movement for Liberation of Congo was conducted in total closed session.

FK/ER/GF

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