The High Court Chamber for International Crimes (HCCIC) has handed Jean Twagiramungu, a 25-year jail sentence for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Twagiramungu was extradited from Germany in 2017. Before his extradition, he was arrested in and detained Frankfurt for two years while battling against his extradition to Rwanda. ALSO READ: Genocide fugitive extradited from Germany, to be charged next week In delivering the verdict on February 16, the court said that Twagiramungu participated in various attacks that killed Tutsi including the one that happened at the Catholic parish of Cyanika, in Nyamagabe District were over 35,000 Tutsi who has sought refuge at the parish were massacred. Twagiramungu was found guilty of committing the Genocide, and Genocide as a crimes against humanity. However, he immediately reacted to his sentence saying that he is not happy with the ruling and immediately announced that he would appeal against the verdict. ALSO READ: CNLG lauds Germany for extraditing Genocide suspect According to survivors, Twagiramungu used his influence as a teacher to order Interahamwe militia to take up arms and murder their neighbours during the Genocide. Survivors say Twagiramungu always brandished traditional arms, including machetes, everywhere he went and was seen at roadblocks where the Tutsi were killed. Before the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Twagiramungu was a well-known teacher at EAV Kaduha High School and in the community around the region.
