Police suspect Rwandan-born Porvoo resident took part in 1994 genocide

State Prosecutor to consider charges

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has completed its preliminary investigation into the possible involvement of a Rwandan man living in Porvoo in the Rwandan genocide in 1994. NBI investigators suspect him of planning, leading, and implementing mass killing in the municipality of Nyakizu in the south of Rwanda.
      The suspect denies involvement in the killings. He has been remanded in prison since April 2007.
      “The police have heard various assessments on how many deaths he might have been involved in. The estimates vary from several thousand to as many as 25,000", says Thomas Elfgren of the NBI.
     
In the preliminary investigation the NBI has not taken a precise view of the number of possible victims. “I believe that the number is very large”, Elfgren says.
      He does not want to say before the trial how the suspect is believed to have implemented the alleged crimes.
      However, he will say that the Human Rights Watch organisation has a view on the man’s actions, which “is not terribly far” from what the NBI thinks.
     
The suspect was a leading figure in the Rwandan Baptist Church. He is also said to have been personally acquainted with President Juvénal Habyarimana.
      Extremist Hutu tribesmen are believed to have killed more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in the 100-day genocide in 1994.
      The NBI was assisted in its inquiries by Rwandan authorities. More than 100 people were interviewed as witnesses, some of whom had themselves been convicted of participation in the killings.
      In their investigation, Finnish authorities have travelled to Rwanda, as well as Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Congo, Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa.
     
The investigation material, comprising 4,000 pages, has been submitted to State Prosecutor Raija Toiviainen, who will consider the possibility of pressing charges. The possible trial would take place at Porvoo District Court.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Newspaper: Rwanda wants Finland to extradite genocide suspect (14.5.2007)
  Finnish police investigators arrive in Rwanda to investigate genocide charges (10.5.2007)
  COMMENTARY: Rwanda genocide case tests international reach of Finnish law (12.4.2007)
  Finland holds Rwandan man suspected of involvement in genocide (10.4.2007)

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