Gacaca hands life to former FDLR General

NYAGATARE - A Gacaca Court in Nyagatare Sector on Thursday handed a life sentence with special provisions to former FDLR General, Salfe Bizimungu Mahoro a.k.a Gen. Chicongo, after finding him guilty of Genocide crimes. The court sitting in Nyagatare cell ruled that basing on investigations carried out, Mahoro was found guilty of different counts as an army officer who worked in the former Umutara Prefecture in 1994. He was convicted of the death of genocide victims only identified as Rugaju and Gatera, raping women in Nyagatare and denying the Genocide. Court explained that Mahoro’s crimes qualified him to be placed in the first category of Genocide convicts. During the first hearing, Mahoro had refuted all accusations against him and insulted women survivors he is alleged to have raped in Nyagatare, arguing that they were prostitutes. Speaking to The New Times after the ruling, various residents especially survivors welcomed the verdict. “He was a notorious killer who used military authority to kill and rape most of us here. He deserves life sentence since there is no any other punishment bigger than that,” one of the survivors said. A source within this Gacaca court told The New Times that Mahoro was repatriated and taken to at Mutobo Demobilization and Reintegration Centre in the Northern Province, before being before being discharged from the army. However, charges were later brought up against him which led to his arrest and subsequent detention at Mpanga Prison where he has been for the last six months during the trial. Ends

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Gacaca hands life to former FDLR General