Rwanda trial set to cost hundreds of thousands of euros

Porvoo District Court ponders organisation of trial.
By Helsingin Sanomat
International Edition

Minister of Justice Tuija Brax (Green) says that the court proceedings of a Rwandan man living in Finland, who faces trial on charges of involvement in the Rwandan genocide in 1994, could cost hundreds of thousands of euros.

It is possible that the costs of the trial will require financing from a supplementary budget, as the court system is already spending large amounts of money on the WinCapita investment fraud case.

Brax does not want to overdramatise the case, which is taking on the character of a precedent. She says that it is clear that Finland will meet its international obligations.

The case is the first in which a defendant in Finland faces charges of genocide. One complicating factor is that examining witnesses is difficult.

A meeting is being held today, Friday, at Porvoo District Court to prepare for the practical arrangements of the trial.

A representative of the Ministry of Justice will be on hand to keep the ministry abreast of events at the trial. The resources of Porvoo District Court are not sufficient on their own, and additional financing will be needed.

“We will take care of the matter, and the ministry will take care of the money”, says Porvoo District Court judge Lars Karlsson. “Our task is simply to organise the trial, in which everyone is treated fairly.”

The number of witnesses has not yet been disclosed, but the lawyer for the defendant, Ville Hoikkala, says that the defence has 15 witnesses living in different parts of Africa, whose travel to Finland will cost about EUR 50,000. Hoikkala says that the expenses of the defence so far are no more than EUR 80,000.

“I can show all the receipts. My most expensive night was in the same hotel in Rwanda that the Finnish police used. It cost EUR 140.”

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) says that its preliminary investigation has cost more than EUR 200,000 so far. The NBI will not say how much money is still needed in order to get the witnesses to come to the court.

Hannu Taimisto, a high-ranking official at the international unit of the Ministry of Justice, confirms that a proposal for a supplementary budget can be made to cover the costs. Tammisto says that more important than the costs is to look at the significance of the trial on the international level, and in human rights terms.

“Finland is at the centre of attention now.”

Previously in HS International Edition:
Police suspect Rwandan-born Porvoo resident took part in 1994 genocide (5.2.2009)

Prosecutor denies witness statements against Rwandan man acquired by torture (2.6.2009)

Man living in Porvoo indicted for involvement in Rwanda genocide (1.6.2009)

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