A formerly wealthy Rwandan businessman on Thursday pleaded innocent to four counts of genocide and crimes against humanity for his alleged participation in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
It was Gaspard Kanyarukiga’s first appearance before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which has been prosecuting the alleged leaders of the genocide that left more than 500 000 people dead in Rwanda, mostly Tutsis.
”I am not guilty of the charges,” Kanyarukiga (59) told presiding Judge Charles Byron.
Kanyarukiga was arrested in South Africa on July 16 after an arrest warrant was issued by Chief Prosecutor Hassan Jallow. He was transferred to the tribunal’s special detention facility in Arusha on Monday. The accused has been on the run since he was indicated in 2001.
Prosecutors allege that Kanyarukiga was responsible for the deaths of more than 2 000 Tutsis in the Nyange church in Kibuye province. All of the Tutsis living in the area were believed killed in the attack.
”Kanyarukiga and others organised and participated in the burning down and demolition of the church packed with refugees,” the indictment said. He allegedly led Hutu militiamen to the church and set it on fire while the extremist militiamen fired guns and hurled hand grenades into the church.
The prosecution further stated that a bulldozer was ordered to knock down the remains of the church and the ”attackers and drivers of the bulldozers drank beers” to celebrate after the destruction.
Byron ordered the court registry to set a date to begin the trial. Kanyarukiga’s arrival brings to 69 the number of accused in the tribunal’s custody. Since the tribunal was established in 1994, it has convicted 20 persons and acquitted three. — Sapa-AP