KARONGI- The former leader of Gitarama sector, Abel Mushaka is among the several suspects who were handed different jail terms for Genocide crimes.

A  Gacaca court sitting in Bwishyura sector in Karongi District handed a life sentence to Mushaka, after finding him guilty of spearheading massacres in Bisesero and Karongi, where over 80,000 Tutsi perished.

Witnesses said Mushaka, in his capacity as sector leader, incited people to kill each other and used his wealth to reward killers.

The same court presided over by Jean Rwata, also sentenced 11 other suspects to 30 years imprisonment each, and acquitted 36 others.

The trial is part of a larger one in which over  96 Genocide suspects are  facing similar charges.

"We acquitted many people after confirming that they were not involved in killings at the two scenes. The trial is still ongoing because we have many more people awaiting judgment,” Rwata said shortly after the ruling.

Gacaca in Karongi District had set the end of last month (August) to dispose of all pending cases but failed to beat the deadline.

"There is a tendency to hide important forms of information among suspects and this is why our trials took a long time and we failed to make it within the stipulated time frame,” Rwata explained.

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