The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda today heard oral arguments regarding the appeal lodged by Siméon Nchamihigo, former Deputy Prosecutor in Cyangugu against the Trial Judgement pronounced by Trial Chamber III on 24 September 2008, and rendered, in writing, on 12 November 2008.

In his brief, Nchamihigo alleged that the Trial Chamber committed numerous errors of law and fact and accordingly requested that the Appeals Chamber composed of Judges Patrick Robinson, presiding, Fausto Pocar, Liu Daqun, Theodor Meron and Carmel Agius, overturn the Trial Judgement, enter acquittals on all counts of the Indictment, and order his immediate release. In the alternative, he requested that the Appeals Chamber grant him extensive mitigating circumstances and hand down a lenient sentence. The Prosecution opposed the relief sought and asked the Appeals Chamber to dismiss all of Mr. Nchamihigo’s grounds of appeal.

On 24 September 2008, the Trial Chamber found Mr. Nchamihigo guilty of genocide; murder, extermination and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity in relation to events in Cyangugu prefecture, Rwanda, in April 1994, and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his life.

Siméon Nchamihigo was born on 7 August 1959, in Gatare commune, Cyangugu prefecture, Rwanda. On 17 July 1994, he left Rwanda to go into exile in Bukavu, DRC (former Zaire). He was arrested in Arusha, Tanzania, on 19 May 2001, and transferred to the United Nations Detention Facility on 25 May 2001.