Rwanda: Genocide Suspects Rutunga, Munyenyezi Again in Courtroom This Month

Genocide suspects Venant Rutunga and Beatrice Munyenyezi are set to return to courtroom this month for the continuation of the listening to of their instances in substance.

Each hearings will happen on September 19.

Rutunga is being tried by the Excessive Courtroom Chamber for Worldwide and Cross Border Crimes (HCCIC) in Nyanza, whereas Munyenyezi is being tried by the Intermediate Courtroom of Huye.

Munyenyezi, 52, is charged with counts together with committing genocide, planning of genocide, complicity in genocide, incitement to commit genocide, extermination as a criminal offense in opposition to humanity, and complicity in rape.

She allegedly dedicated the crimes within the former Butare Prefecture (present Huye District).

According to the prosecution, Munyenyezi was lively at numerous roadblocks through the genocide, collaborating in checking identification paperwork of travellers as a way to single out the Tutsi.

She would hand these recognized as Tutsi to the Interahamwe, to be tortured, killed or raped.

Throughout her bail listening to, the prosecutors mentioned that she additionally took half within the killings.

She pleaded not responsible to the costs, saying they’re fabricated.

Amongst different issues, she argued that through the Genocide, she was new in Butare and subsequently the those who testify in opposition to her didn’t even know her.

She was deported from the United States in April final yr after finishing a 10-year sentence that was handed to her by the US authorities because of crimes associated to immigration fraud.

As for Rutunga, 72, he was extradited from the Netherlands final yr, and is going through three counts: Genocide, complicity in committing Genocide, and extermination as a criminal offense in opposition to humanity.

The prosecution’s file signifies that he dedicated the alleged crimes between April 26 and 30, 1994 within the former Butare Prefecture.

Throughout the Genocide, he was working because the Regional Director of the Rwanda Agricultural Analysis Institute (ISAR-Rubona), and used his place to commit a variety of actions that led to lack of many lives, particularly of former staff of the establishment he was main.

Amongst these, the prosecutors accused him of getting instructed the Gendarmes (policemen) hunt for 2 of his Tutsi staff, Epaphrodite Kalisa and George Ndamaje, and kill them.

The prosecutors additionally pinned him on an incident the place he allegedly drove a automobile and went to fulfill the then Prefect of Butare to request him for armed policemen to help in killing the Tutsis who had efficiently defended themselves in opposition to the Interahamwe.

Rutunga pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying he didn’t commit the crimes.

As an illustration, although he admitted that he knew Ndamage and Kalisa, he by no means took half of their killing, arguing that those who killed them had been tried and sentenced.

He additionally admitted that he went to fulfill with the Prefect of Butare and requested for policemen, however the intention was to not kill the Tutsi, however slightly, “to defend ISAR from assaults by intruders” as a result of he had learnt that there was an imminent assault that may occur.

The truth is, he argued that, whereas he was away, the attackers got here in, killed folks and destroyed property, together with his personal home.

Final yr, Kicukiro Main Courtroom remanded him, after resolving that there have been affordable grounds to suspect him of getting dedicated the crimes for which he’s being prosecuted.