Nchamihigo, Rwanda lawyer at ICTR sentenced to life

Former Western Province prosecutor accused of Genocide to be sentenced his Friday


BY GEORGE KAGAME

Arusha

The trial of Simeon Nchamihigo, the former Deputy Prosecutor for Cyangugu Prefecture currently part of the Northern Province will come to a conclusion with judgment expected next Wednesday 25, from Trail Chamber 111, seven years since the former lawyer appeared in court on 2001.

Nchamihigo 48 was then charged for genocide, extermination and murder for his role in organizing the militias charged with exterminating the Tutsi and their allies during the 1994 killing spree and he pleaded not guilty to all charges, the sentencing was expected to be passed this Friday but has been forwarded to mid next week.

The prosecution alleged that the legal expert on one particular occasion wore a military uniform and carried a weapon as he participated in a campaign with leaders of the military and the Interahamwe militia in Cyangugu to exterminate Tutsis and moderates from the Hutu opposition whom he considered traitors and accomplices of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.

He was also accused for distributing weapons and ordered the killing of Tutsi civilians including a priest, who was killed in his presence at a roadblock in May 1994, Nchamihigo who was an influential politician in the Western region as Secretary for the Coalition pour la Défense de la République (CDR), is further alleged to have thrown celebratory parties for the Interahamwe, offering and food for their 'duties.' Among his notable contributions during the genocide was his order to burn one family in their own car and pouring fuel one individual to be burnt.

Nchamihigo was arrested in Arusha, Tanzania on 19 May 2001 and transferred to the Tribunal’s Detention Facility on 25 May 2001; he is represented by Denis Turcotte from Canada while the Prosecution is represented by Alphonse Van from Ivory Coast.
Judge Dennis M. Byron the President of the ICTR will preside over the judgment in Trial Chamber 111 next week.

Nchamihigo was arrested in 2001 at the ICTR premises after he was discovered in the employment of the court under a false name. His detention was inspired by a witness at one of the trials; the witness recognised him and revealed his true identity as one of the organisers of the genocide.