Arusha: The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) unanimously confirmed the Judgement of Trial Chamber I, by which the latter had acquitted gnace Bagilishema, former bourgmestre (mayor) of Mabanza, near Kibuye. Announcing its decision at a hearing in Arusha, on July 3, the President of the Appeals Chamber, Judge Claude Jorda, said that the Chamber unanimously rejected all of the arguments submitted by the Prosecutor and ordered Bagilishema's immediate release.
Bagilishema's counsel, Maître François Roux of the Montpellier Bar, welcomed the decision. He said that as well as being an important day for Mr. Bagilishema and his family, it was an important day for International Criminal Law.
Bagilishema's counsel, Maître François Roux of the Montpellier Bar, welcomed the decision. He said that as well as being an important day for Mr. Bagilishema and his family, it was an important day for International Criminal Law.
Only two days after the entry into force of the Statute of the International Criminal Court the Appeals Chamber had demonstrated that it was for judges, in their full independence to decide who was guilty and who was innocent.
He added that it was an important day for Rwanda also and a step in the process of reconciliation to which the work of the ICTR contributed.
He added that it was an important day for Rwanda also and a step in the process of reconciliation to which the work of the ICTR contributed.