Hungry for Truth, Peace and Justice

Swedish government to decide on extradition of Rwandan war criminal

By DPA
Earth Times
May 26, 2009

Stockholm - Sweden's Supreme Court
ruled Tuesday that the government would have the final say on the possible extradition of an alleged Rwandan war criminal. The Supreme Court said that although there were shortcomings in Rwanda's legal system, there were no legal obstacles preventing the return of Sylvere Ahorugeze to the East African country.

Rwanda called for Ahorugeze's extradition following his arrest in Sweden in July 2008. He is suspected of crimes against humanity during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and of involvement in the murder of around 25 people.

The 53-year-old has said witness statements were part of a plot against him and that he would not be granted a fair trial in Rwanda. He has also cited ill-health.

The Supreme Court
said Rwanda had made strides to improve its justice system, but noted that Finland and the High Court in London recently said they would not extradite other alleged Rwandan war criminals.

Earlier, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said there was reason to believe the allegations made against Ahorugeze.

Ahorugeze had been living in Denmark for several years when he accompanied his wife to the Rwandan embassy in neighbouring Sweden where she tried to renew her passport. Embassy staff alerted Swedish police and Ahorugeze was arrested.

Danish authorities held him on suspicion of war crimes, but he was subsequently released and awarded damages when a special prosecutor dropped the case.

An estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred by Hutu militia and civilians in the Rwandan genocide that began in early April 1994 and lasted approximately 100 days.

posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 11:55 AM