Cabinet approves move to host Sierra Leone convicts

Cabinet has approved a draft law that will see convicts from the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) serve their prison sentences in Rwanda, Tharcise Karugarama, Justice Minister told The Sunday Times. The move follows an earlier agreement signed in March between Rwanda and the United Nations backed SCSL. Karugarama told The Sunday Times that the process “will be done soon and by July, we should be through with it.” He said that following the signing of the agreement, there was need for a law justifying it, adding that the draft law has already been put to cabinet. The proposed law was discussed and approved at cabinet level on Friday, and will be taken to parliament for debate as the next stage.Karugarama also said that “once everything is in place; the transfers will be possible” adding that the prison is ready. The convicts once transferred, will be held at Mpanga prison where a new state of the art detention facility has been constructed by the government. He said the SCSL is satisfied with the standards of the prison. According to the agreement, Rwanda will receive eight convicts. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is one of the several people being tried by the court. His trial is currently taking place in The Hague, Netherlands unlike other cases which have been held in Sierra Leone where the crimes were committed. If convicted, Charles Taylor will serve his sentence in the United Kingdom. His trial is being held in The Hague for security purposes. Asked what impact the transfers will have on possible transfer of those convicted by the Arusha based International War Crimes Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Karugarama said that it is better to wait for that impact once the transfers have been done, saying that these are two different cases. Ends