Netherlands to extradite another Genocide fugitive

Rwanda has pledged cooperation in the extradition hearing of Genocide suspect Jean-Baptiste Mugimba, who was arrested on Dutch soil on Thursday.Mugimba, who had managed to escape justice for 20 years, was arrested in the Dutch municipality, Leusden, about seven months after his residence permit was revoked.The suspect, who faces possible extradition to Rwanda, is accused of multiple charges for crimes he allegedly committed in areas of Nyakabanda and Nyamirambo sectors of Nyarugenge District in Kigali.They include genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, murder and extermination as crimes against humanity, according to prosecution.He is alleged to have been responsible for the preparation and execution of mass killings during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.Dutch prosecutors say they opted to have the suspect sent to Rwanda for trial because “the evidence is there and the participants are well versed in the language, culture and the background to the events.”In November 2012, R wanda issued an indictment and international arrest warrant for Mugimba who was, during the Genocide, the secretary-general of the Coalition for the Defence of the Republic, an extremist ethnic party. Good gestureHe is also alleged to have been involved in supplying weapons to militia members, erecting roadblocks and several attacks on Tutsis.In a statement, the spokesman of the Rwandan Prosecution, Alain Mukuralinda said: “The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) would like to thank the Kingdom of Netherlands for the continued arrest of Genocide fugitives and assures maximum cooperation during the extradition hearing in the Netherlands in order to have him extradited to face trial in Rwanda.”Dutch authorities announced that Mugimba risks being extradited to Rwanda.The Netherlands Immigration Service revoked his residence permit in June 2013 on grounds that there were serious reasons for considering that he was involved in the Genocide.Mugimba appealed against the revocation of his permit but his appeal was dismissed by the Immigration Service. His further appeal against the decision is currently pending in court.Last month, the Dutch Court of First Instance in The Hague granted Rwanda’s request of extraditing Genocide suspect Jean Claude Iyamuremye to answer for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The 37-year-old, who was arrested in Voorburg, Netherlands in July last year, had his case referred to a Dutch court in October for an extradition hearing to face trial in Rwanda.Among the cases tried in the Netherlands include that of Yvonne Basebya, who was earlier this year sentenced to six years for inciting Genocide against the Tutsi.Also, in 2009, a Dutch court sentenced Joseph Mpambara to 20 years for his role in the 1994 Genocide.He appealed and, in July 2011, the higher court sentenced him to life in prison for war crimes committed in Rwanda in 1994. They are both serving their sentences in the Dutch prisons.While visiting Rwanda early this month, the Dutch Minister for Migration, Security and Justice, Fred Teeven, promised his country was ready to extradite or deport some Genocide suspects to Rwanda within the next one-and-a-half years.The Netherlands has been a major partner of the Rwandan judiciary from the times of Gacaca court during reforms within the Judiciary that commenced in 2004.