JURIST - Paper Chase: ICTR transfers genocide convicts to Mali prison

[JURIST] The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) [official website] on Wednesday reported that it has transferred four individuals convicted for their involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide [BBC News backgrounder; JURIST news archive] to the Republic of Mali [BBC backgrounder] . The four convicts, who include Theoneste Bagosora [ICTR materials], called the "kingpin" of the genocide, were transferred to a Mali prison [press release] to serve their sentences. The other three transferred convicts were Yusuf Munyakazi, Tharcise Renzaho and Dominique Ntawukulilyayo [case materials]. Another four convicts were transferred last Friday to the Republic of Benin [BBC backgrounder] making the total number of convicts serving their sentence in that country to 16. Those transferred to Benin include Aloys Ntabakuze, Ildephonse Hategekimana, Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Callixte Kalimanzira [case materials]. The ICTR has sent a total of 20 convicts to Mail's detention facility.

In May the ICTR reduced the sentence of Ntabakuze and affirmed the sentences of two others. Ntabakuze's sentence was reduced from life in prison to 35 years after the court heard his appeal [JURIST reports] last fall. Last December the Appeals Chamber of the ICTR lowered [JURIST report] the sentence of Bagosora from life to 35 years in prison. The court had overturned several of his convictions but upheld the conviction for genocide and crimes against humanity. The ICTR also reduced the life sentence of Anatole Nsengiyumva [ICTR materials] to 15 years, reversing several of his convictions. He was released for time served.