Rwandan man guilty of genocide: Norway court
A Norwegian court has convicted a Rwandan man of involvement in the killings of 2,000 people during the 1994 genocide in the central African country.
The court of appeal in Oslo found Sadi Bugingo, 49, guilty of nineteen out of twenty charges. Sentencing will take place in January.
“This case shows that Norway has the ability and the will to punish the most serious international crimes,” said state prosecutor Marit Bakkevig.
“There is a risk that people who have committed genocide or other serious crimes, seek residency in another country to avoid justice. To prevent people avoiding punishment, we as a state that follows the rule of law want to show that we can investigate and prosecute these cases under Norwegian law,” Bakkevig said.
Oslo district court sentenced Bugingo to 21 years in jail. This was the first time a Norwegian court convicted anyone of genocide. The court ruled that Bugingo had a leading role in two massacres.
The 49-year-old has maintained his innocence throughout.
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The court of appeal in Oslo found Sadi Bugingo, 49, guilty of nineteen out of twenty charges. Sentencing will take place in January.
“This case shows that Norway has the ability and the will to punish the most serious international crimes,” said state prosecutor Marit Bakkevig.
“There is a risk that people who have committed genocide or other serious crimes, seek residency in another country to avoid justice. To prevent people avoiding punishment, we as a state that follows the rule of law want to show that we can investigate and prosecute these cases under Norwegian law,” Bakkevig said.
Oslo district court sentenced Bugingo to 21 years in jail. This was the first time a Norwegian court convicted anyone of genocide. The court ruled that Bugingo had a leading role in two massacres.
The 49-year-old has maintained his innocence throughout.
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