ICTR
Two granted early release: On Tuesday, the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals granted early release to ex-Rwandan mayor, Paul Bisengimana, and militiaman Omar Serushago. Bisengimana, who was mayor of Gikoro commune in Kigali Rural province during genocide and Serushago, a former Interahamwe militia leader in Gisenyi prefecture, had been serving their sentences in Mali.
Four seek relocation in France: ICTR spokesman Roland Amoussouga Wednesday announced that three former Rwandan officials acquitted by the Tribunal and a military officer who has finished serving his sentence, have asked Paris to give them a long-stay visa so that they could join their families residing in France.
RWANDA
Former Rwandan mayor sentenced to life: On Wednesday, the High Court sentenced former Rwandan mayor, Jean-Pierre Sewabeza, to life in prison after finding him guilty of involvement in the 1994 genocide. Maire de Kagano, dans l'ancienne préfecture de Cyangugu, Jean-Pierre Sewabeza était jugé par le tribunal de grande instance de Rusizi (sud-ouest), selon Radio Rwanda et le journal Igihe paraissant en ligne. He was accused of inciting the massacres of Tutsis at several meetings in South-West Rwanda.
ICC
Judges order Libya to surrender Abdullah al-Senussi: On Monday judges of the Court issued an order on the Libyan authorities to execute the arrest warrant issued against Abdullah al-Senoussi. The Court has indicted the L'ancien chef des renseignements militaires du régime Kadhafi fait l'objet d'un mandat de la Cour, émis en juin 2011, pour crimes contre l'humanité.former head of military intelligence of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime for crimes against humanity. Abdullah El Senoussi avait été arrêté au cours d'une escale à l'aéroport de Nouakchott, en Mauritanie, dans la nuit du 16 au 17 mars 2012, puis extradé vers la Libye le 5 septembre.
Judges dismiss appeal over ICC jurisdiction in Gbagbo case: Appeals judges Wednesday upheld a lower Court’s decision on its jurisdiction after unanimously dismissed an argument presented by lawyers for former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, currently facing trial there on charges of crimes against humanity.
Bensouda addresses UN Security Council: Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda Thursday briefed the Security Council in New York, and asked for its help to arrest the suspects accused of committing crimes in Darfur, Sudan. She said that since the Court issued five arrest warrants for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Sudanese individuals, including President Omar Al-Bashir, none of them have been transferred for prosecution.
Bemba trial adjourned to March next year: On Thursday judges adjourned to March 4, 2013, the defence hearing in the case of former Congolese Vice-President, Jean Piere-Bemba, who is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.
.NEXT WEEK
ICC
Judges to deliver judgment in Ngudjolo case: On Tuesday (December 18), the judges will deliver judgment in the case of Mathieu Ngudjolo charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes for his alleged role in attack of Bogoro in Ituri District, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on February 24, 2003.
ICTR
Tribunal’s first instance to give its last judgment: On Thursday (December 20), judges will deliver judgment in the case of ex-Rwandan Minister Augustin Ngirabatwe, being the last in the first instance trials. He is charged with conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide or in the alternative, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity.
RWANDA
Mugesera trial starts: On Monday (December 17) the trial for Rwandan former politician, Leon Mugesera, is expected to take off before the High Court. He is accused of inciting genocide in a 1992 speech delivered in Kinyarwanda, during a meeting of his political party in northern Rwanda.
FK/NI