The Appeals Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has referred the case file of Pheneas Munyarugarama to Rwandan courts.“It is the seventh case sent to Rwanda by the International Residual Mechanism. We will receive his file in the next 30 days,” said the Head of Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit, John Bosco Siboyintore.According to the indictment, Munyarugarama was the commander of Gako military camp and the highest ranking military officer in the Bugesera region, formerly Kigali-Rural prefecture.He was charged before the ICTR with genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, as well as extermination, murder, persecution, and rape as crimes against humanity. Munyarugarama remains at large.The tribunal’s referral chamber had in June ordered that Munyarugarama’s case be transferred to Rwanda but the Duty Counsel filed a notice of appeal which the prosecution challenged and the Appeal chamber upheld a prior decision. Other case files that have been transferred to Rwanda by the same court include that of Aloys Ndimbati who is alleged to have played a key in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.Ndimbati is a former Bourgmestre of Gisovu Commune in the former Kibuye Prefecture and is among fugitives still at large. Jean Uwinkindi was the first person to be transferred to Kigali where he is currently battling it out, in his pre-trial hearing, in the intermediate court. Uwinkindi was transferred on April 19.Other cases referred by the Tribunal include that of Charles Ryandikayo, a former businessman in Kibuye prefecture, Fulgence Kayishema, former Inspector of Judicial Police in Commune Kivumu, Charles Sikubwabo and Ladislas Ntaganzwa, both former Bourgmestre of Gishyita Commune in Kibuye and Nyakizu Commune in Butare, respectively. The four are still at large.Other cases that have been transferred to Rwanda include that of Bernard Munyagishari who is still in custody at the Arusha based tribunal. Munyagishari appealed the decision of his transfer to Rwanda which will be decided by the Appeals Chamber.
