ICTR prosecutor tours city prison

KIGALI - The Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Bubacar Jallow expressed satisfaction on the new holding cells built for Genocide suspects who are yet to be transferred to Rwanda.The new exotic holding cells are built at Kigali Central Prison (KCP) commonly known as 1930. They are expected to be used for temporary detention of Genocide suspects who will be transferred from the Arusha-based ICTR, or those extradited from different countries. Suspects are expected to be either held in the facilities while in transit to Mpanga Prison or when they are from the prison to Kigali for trial.The twelve self-contained room detention facilities are built within the premises of KCP. The cells are painted white and have tiled floors.Each room is 2.7x 3 meters and has electricity.The rooms are also equipped with a television set, a library and washrooms for the inmates. Inside the cells’ compound is a recreation centre for the inmates to do some sports.The prison has also purchased standard trucks for transporting suspects. The trucks are air-conditioned, bullet- and sound proof.“I am impressed by what Rwanda has put up to ensure that the prisons confirm to international standards. All this is done in collaboration with our office and the government has ensured adequate holding facilities,” Jallow said.“I believe this is a clear indication that Rwanda has the capacity to handle cases from ICTR; I guess the judges will be considerate,” he added.Jallow who was accompanied by Obote Odora and Mohammed Ayat, both from the ICTR prosecution office, said that four cases are likely to be transferred to Rwanda.Recently Jallow tabled a motion to have three suspects in detention at the ICTR facility in Arusha, Tanzania, transferred to Rwanda. The suspects are Lieutenant Ildephonse Hategekimana, and former merchants Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Yussuf Munyakazi. The Secretary General in the Ministry of Internal Security, Joseph Mutaboba, said that Rwanda is optimistic that the prosecution will convince judges at ICTR to have cases transferred to Rwanda. He said that Rwanda is expecting a number of suspects to be extradited.“Since we have a prison that is on an international level, we are sure that cases that have been pending extradition with be approved this time,” Mutaboba said, citing the yet-to-be completed Mpanga Prison that has 76 fully equipped cells.The Director of KCP, Dativa Mukanyangizi, said that the new section meant for ICTR transferees is big enough for the cases Rwanda is expecting to be transferred. Currently KCP is overcrowded with 4,622 prisoners. Its standard capacity is 2,500.“We hope that this figure will reduce. This prison once had over 7000 prisoners and we intend to cut it down from 4622 to 3000,” Mukanyangizi said.She said that there are some prisoners who are foreigners notably Indians, (DR) Congolese, Americans, Cameroonians and Burundians. “Some of these are charged with Genocide like a Congolese man and some Burundians who are held here; other foreigners are charged with different crimes,” she explained. Ends

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ICTR prosecutor tours city prison