Rutaganira released after completing sentence

The UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Sunday released Vincent Rutaganira after he completed his six years jail sentence for committing crimes against humanity during the 1994 Genocide, the court said on Monday. Rutaganira, who was councilor of Mubuga secteur from 1985 through 1994, was sentenced March 14, 2005 to six years imprisonment after being convicted of crimes against humanity (extermination) for having aided and abetted by omission the attacks at Mubuga church (Gishyita commune) that resulted in thousands of deaths. It was the Tanzania-based tribunal shortest sentence largely because he pleaded guilty to one count of an indictment charging him with extermination as an accomplice by omission to a crime against humanity. The trial chamber then granted the prosecutor’s request to dismiss all other charges. ‘In handing down the sentence, Trial Chamber III, then composed of Presiding Judge Andresia Vaz (Senegal), Judge Flavia Lattanzi (Italy) and Judge Florence Rita Arrey (Cameroon) took into account several mitigating circumstances including Rutaganira’s voluntary surrender to the Tribunal in March 2002, his guilty plea, his good behavior while in detention, his advanced age of 60 and his ill health,’ a communiqué stated. According to Hirondelle News Agency, ICTR’s Information Officer, Boca Sy, said that Rutaganira left the UN’s Special Dentention Facility for an unknown destination. He left aboard a UN vehicle with his luggages, added Sy. He also had his last breakfast at the detention facility and also bade farewell to some of his colleagues, according to Boca. No relatives were reportedly spotted at the exit gate. During his trial, Rutaganira had said he would wish to return home, but his wife, who testified for his defence, thought of living oustide. Ends

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Rutaganira released after completing sentence