23.04.12 - ICTR/KABUGA - EIGHT WITNESSES TO TESTIFY IN DEFENCE OF FELICIEN KABUGA

Arusha, April 23, 2012 – Special hearings to preserve evidence for the most wanted genocide fugitive, Félicien Kabuga, Monday resumed before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), with the hearing of defence witnesses.

Kabuga’s Duty Counsel Bahame Nyanduga will be fielding eight witnesses for preservation of their testimony. The special deposition hearings are being conducted to preserve evidence for future use if the fugitive were to be arrested.

The prosecution’s testimony against Kabuga, who is accused of having financed the 1994 Tutsi genocide, commenced on May 23, 2011 and ended on October 28, 2011. The proceedings were being held in total closed session.

Kabuga is charged with conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide or in the alternative, complicity in genocide, attempted to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity (persecution and extermination).     

Similar defence proceedings are in progress for another fugitive, Protais Mpiranya, former Commander of the Presidential Guard. Evidence preservation regarding defence witnesses for another wanted ex-Defence Minister Augustin Bizimana, was also due to start soon.  

FK/NI

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