Sadi Bugingo, accused of taking part in the murders of around 2,000 people during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, was again found guilty on almost all counts by a Norwegian appeals court. Bugingo, who emigrated to Norway after the mass killings 20 years ago, faces sentencing in January.
“This case shows that Noway has the ability and the willingness to prosecute the most serious international crimes,” prosecutor Marit Bakkevig said after the appeals court ruling was issued on Tuesday. It’s been important for Norwegian officials to send a message that Norway is no safe haven for people fleeing crimes in their homeland.
Bugingo has denied the charges against him but the appeals court (Borgarting lagmannsrett) upheld the lower court’s ruling, agreeing that Bugingo had aided the murderers of around 2,000 people by serving as their driver and leading them to their victims’ hiding places. He thus was found guilty on 20 counts of contributing to the murders except for one individual murder, reported news bureau NTB.
Prosecutors were due to demand the same maximum prison term of 21 years that the Oslo City Court imposed last year. The case, which involved years of investigation and legal cooperation across borders, has been called the biggest murder case in Norwegian history.
newsinenglish.no staff
