26.09.14 – WEEKLY SUMMARY – ICC TO INVESTIGATE CAR CRIMES, RWANDAN GENOCIDE SUSPECT JAILED IN SWEDEN

Arusha, September 26, 2014 (FH) – Swedish judicial authorities on Wednesday jailed a man of Rwandan origin suspected of participating in the 1994 genocide. Meanwhile the International Criminal Court Prosecutor opened an investigation into crimes committed in the Central African Republic since 2012.

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RWANDA Trial starts for suspect extradited from Norway: Trial hearings kicked off Monday in Kigali in the case of Charles Bandora, the first genocide suspect extradited to Rwanda from a European country. On the first day, the court heard two prosecution witnesses. Bandora was handed over to Rwandan authorities by Norway on March 10, 2013.

SWEDENSwede of Rwandan origin jailed: Swedish judicial authorities on Wednesday jailed a man of Rwandan origin suspected of participating in the 1994 genocide. A second suspect who has not yet obtained Swedish nationality was released from custody. The prosecutor in charge of the case said investigations concerning the two men would continue. The suspects’ identities was not revealed.

ICCProsecutor opens second investigation into CAR crimes: International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has announced she is opening an investigation into crimes committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2012.  The ICC is already trying Congolese senator and former vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba for crimes committed in the CAR in 2002 and 2003 by former rebels of his MLC movement. Both the so-called anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka rebels are suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ICCUhuru Kenyatta asks to be excused: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta asked the International Criminal Court on Thursday to allow him not to be present in person at an October 8 hearing to prepare his crimes against humanity trial.  Otherwise, he asks that it be postponed and that he be allowed to attend by videoconference. Kenyatta is charged with crimes against humanity committed in post-election violence that followed elections at the end of 2007.

NEXT WEEKICC: Confirmation of charges hearings are set to take place Monday to Thursday in the case of former Ivorian Youth Minister Charles Blé Goudé.ICTR: The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is to hand down its appeals judgments on Monday in three trials involving five former leaders, including the top two leaders of the former presidential party MRND.

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