Home NewsInternational Swedish Court Turns Down Life Sentence Appeal by Rwandan Genocide Convict

Swedish Court Turns Down Life Sentence Appeal by Rwandan Genocide Convict

by Dan Ngabonziza
5:38 pm

Rukeratabaro was found guilty of Genocide crimes committed in former Cyangugu, now Rusizi district, especially at MIbirizi Parish

A Swedish Court of Appeal in the capital Stockholm has rejected appeal by genocide convict Theodore Rukeratabaro and upheld life sentence.

The Genocide convict, Theodore Rukeratabaro who had obtained Swedish citizenship, is accused of massacres, assassinations, kidnappings and looting during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The Svea Appeal Court had earlier this month announced it will decide whether or not the suspect’s life sentence should be upheld.

In June last year, a Stockholm District Court had convicted him of Genocide crimes committed in the Genocide against Tutsi in Rusizi district, Western Rwanda.

Having altered his name to “Tabaro” to evade justice, the convict fled to Sweden in 1998, where he later obtained citizenship in 2006.

In 2014, Rwanda’s Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA)had sent Rukeratabaro’s indictment to Sweden on September 12, 2014.

The same Svea Court upheld life sentence against Claver Berinkindi – another Rwandan found guilty of Genocide crimes committed in the former Butare Prefecture (cureent Huye district) in Southern Rwanda.

Berinkindi had obtained Swedish citizenship in 2012.

The same court had also found Stanislas Mbanenande guilty of genocide crimes and was sentenced to life in 2014.

The latest decision by the Swedish court comes when Rwandans are commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Genocide which claimed over one million lives.