Kigali, 1 July 2009
The Hirondelle News Agency reports that a semi-traditional court in Kigali sentenced on Monday two men found guilty of rape during the 1994 genocide to life in imprisonment in isolation.
Martin Habimana, a prosperous businessman and Vianney Habimana, an ordinary citizen, were tried by the gacaca court of Nyakabanda. The accused were convicted for the rape of a young Tutsi woman under the pretext of protecting her from the killers.
The identity of the victim is protected.
After a very controversial first trial, Martin Habimana had asked for withdrawal of the bench last month. He was tried by an entirely new bench.
In 2007, the businessman was tried and sentenced to 18 years in prison for “complicity in the murders of several people” in 1994.
Both men have 15 days, from the date of the judgement, to appeal.
