"The Referral Chamber orders the case to be referred to the authorities of the Republic of Rwanda, so that those authorities should forthwith refer the case to the High Court of Rwanda for an expeditious trial," the decision reads in part.
Presided by Danish Judge Vagn Joensen, the Chamber also ordered the Tribunal’s prosecution to hand over materials supporting the indictment to the Rwandan Prosecutor General as soon as possible and not later than 30 days after the decision has become final.
The Chamber expressed its solemn hope that “the Republic of Rwanda, in accepting referrals from this Tribunal, will actualize in practice the commitments it has made about its good faith, capacity, and willingness to enforce the highest standards of international justice in the referred cases”.
Munyarugarama, who held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Rwandan army, is charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity (extermination, murder, persecution and rape).
Born on January 1, 1948 in Kidaho Commune, Ruhengeri prefecture, North Rwanda, Munyarugarama was Commander of Gako Camp in Kanzenze commune, Bugesera region of Kigali rural prefecture between early 1993 and May 1994.
Other cases sent to Rwanda involve two ICTR detainees, Pastor Jean Uwinkindi and Interahamwe leader Bernard Munyagishari, five fugitives, including three mayors, Charles Sikubwabo, Ladislas Ntaganzwa and Aloys Ndimbati, communal police official Fulgence Kayishema and restaurant manager Charles Ryandikayo.
FK/NI