The international criminal tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR) confirmed on October 22, that the Rwandan Justice system has the necessary guarantees to ensure a fair trial in International Crime cases.
With this statement the court said that Rwanda’s genocide suspect Jean Uwinkindi can stand a fair trial in Rwanda, even after the suspect had requested not to be tried in his home country.
In a statement, the court said that “The High Court of Rwanda had already correctly concluded that it is necessary to have legal representation at all times, provides optimum avenues to appeal any decision, and the Rwanda Bar Association has put in place a roster of over 60 qualified lawyers to represent indigent persons in international crime cases”
His trial has been marked by complaints regarding the composition of his counsel members, payment made to his lawyers, request for revocation and the suspect continuously filed requests for revocation to the ICTR which have culminated in today’s judgement.
This has resulted to the Government of Rwanda spending about Rwf82Million on his case alone by January 2015, ever since the suspect arrived in Rwanda on April 19, 2012.
Uwinkindi is a former Pastor at Kayenzi Pentecostal Church in Nyamata Sector, was charged before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (“ICTR”) with Genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity.
He was arrested in Uganda on 30 June 2010 and transferred to the ICTR on 2 July 20 10; and On 28
June 20 11, a referral chamber ordered that his case be referred to the authorities of the Republic of Rwanda, a decision that was later confirmed on appeal.
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