Norwegian court begins hearing Bugingo's Genocide appeal

The Oslo-based Borgarting Court of Appeal on Tuesday started hearing an appeal filed by Sadi Bugingo who was in February last year sentenced to 21 years in jail for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Bugingo, who maintains he is innocent, was found guilty in the massacres of Tutsi in the former Kibungo prefecture, now Ngoma District, Eastern Province. He was found to have played a part in killing the Economat Général of Kibungo Diocese and at Kibungo Baptist Church. He is linked to murders of Tutsi in various areas, including Birenga, Zaza, and Nyakarambi. During the initial hearing, about 100 people testified against Bugingo accusing him of being responsible for the brutal murder of over 2,000 Tutsi. The defendant’s trial opened in September last year. Some of those testimonies were heard via video link from Kigali. He lost the case and was handed a 21-year jail sentence – a maximum jail term in the Norwegian legal system. Bugingo had lived in Bergen, western Norway, since 2001. He was arrested in 2012 and has been investigated by Norwegian authorities since 2008 after being contacted by Rwanda. Last year, Norway extradited Charles Bandora to stand trial for his alleged role in the Genocide. His trial is underway in the special chamber of the High Court in Kigali. Also, earlier this year another Norwegian court authorised the extradition of Eugene Nkuranyabahizi, 41, for his alleged role in the Genocide. The former teacher is accused of having participated in massacres in the areas of Nkakwa and Cyahinda, in where some 7,500 people died in April 1994. The suspect, who has Burundian citizenship, denies all the charges and opposes his extradition.

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Norwegian court begins hearing Bugingo's Genocide appeal