Porvoo court refuses to release Rwanda defendant Bazaramba

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Rwandan-born Francois Bazaramba, who is accused of involvement in the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, appealed to Porvoo District Court on Monday to be allowed out of prison. The court denied the petition.
      Bazaramba addressed the court personally.
      “I have been in jail without knowing why I am there, because all accusations against me are untrue”, Bazaramba said. “I feel hurt that the prosecutor continues to speak as if I had something to do with these accusations.”
     
According to the prosecution, there is still strong probable cause to suspect Bazaramba of genocide and 15 murders.
      In the view of the defence, the evidence put forward so far has removed the probable cause.
      The court found that keeping Bazaramba in prison is not unreasonable in light of the seriousness of the accusations, even though he has been held in remand exceptionally long.
     
There was a dispute at Monday’s hearing on whether or not there had been illegally lengthy breaks in the trial. Under Finnish regulations, breaks of more than two weeks are not permitted in trials where the defendant is held in custody.
      According to the defence, there has been at least one such period, because even though there had been sessions of the court on certain days, no real business was handled there; the court convened a few times primarily to discuss arrangements, and the defence stipulated that such meetings were not part of the trial, as defined by the law.
      However, the court rejected the argument.
     
The trial has been delayed because of problems in arranging testimony of about 20 defence witnesses.
      The defence would like them to be brought to Porvoo, but some of them lack the necessary travel documents. The court wants to hear the witnesses in Tanzania, but authorities in that country have not yet responded to the request that hearings be allowed in that country.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish genocide trial in Rwanda interrupted twice by technical difficulties (16.9.2009)
  Police suspect Rwandan-born Porvoo resident took part in 1994 genocide (5.2.2009)
  Rwanda genocide trial could drag on longer than expected (24.11.2009)
  Back from Rwanda, Porvoo court ponders need for new trip to Africa (27.10.2009)

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