THE International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), yesterday, sentenced former deputy Governor (Sous Prefet) of Gisagara, Dominique Ntawukuliryayo, to 25 years in jail for Genocide.

The court, however, acquitted him of complicity in Genocide and direct and public incitement to commit Genocide.

Born in 1942 in Gikongoro, Southern Province, Ntawukuliryayo was charged with committing Genocide in his area of birth.

According to an ICTR statement, a tribunal’s Chamber found that between April 20 and 23 1994, thousands of Tutsis and their families fled attacks in their localities and sought refuge at Gisagara market.

The judges concluded that on 23 April 1994, Ntawukuliryayo promised the refugees at the market that they would be fed and protected at the nearby Kabuye Hill.

"However,  later  that  day,  he transported soldiers to the hill,  who  joined other assailants in an extensive attack, leaving possibly  thousands  of  Tutsis  dead,” the statement reads in part.

Contacted yesterday for a comment, Richard Karegyesa, a senior ICTR prosecutor, told The New Times that the office of the Prosecutor would decide whether to appeal or not after getting a copy of the written judgment.

The trial commenced and closed last year after prosecution presented 12 witnesses while 23 witnesses testified on behalf of the defendant.

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