French authorities on Thursday transferred former sub-prefect Dominique Ntawukuriryayo to the Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to stand trial for genocide crimes.

Ntawukuriryayo, a former Sub-Prefect of Gisagara in Butare (Southern Province), is  charged  with  three  counts  of  Genocide,  or  in the alternative,  complicity  in  Genocide  and direct and public Incitement to commit Genocide. 

The accused will be presented before a judge of the tribunal for his initial appearance shortly,” the UN tribunal said in a statement yesterday.

Ntawukuriryayo was arrested in France on October 17, 2007 following an ICTR indictment issued on May 26, 2005. Following his arrest, the accused contested his extradition to Arusha in the French courts and in May 2008 France’s Court of Appeal turned down his request.

The accused then appealed to the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg which also refused to block his transfer.

Ntawukuriryayo is alleged to have "planned, instigated, ordered, committed or otherwise aided and abetted in the planning, preparation or execution of crimes of genocide against Tutsis in Butare prefecture.”

"Specifically he is alleged to have aided and abetted killings at Kabuye hill where as many as 25,000 Tutsi refugees were killed between 21 to 25 April 1994.

In April and May  1994,  Ntawukuriryayo, is also said to have addressed several  meetings in  Gikoro,  Mudabori  and Nyaruhengeri where he, among others,  promised to reward those who would kill the greatest number of Tutsis with houses,  land and money,” the court said.

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