As Defence counsel for Léonidas Nshogoza I thought I might clarify some
points raised in the 2 July 2009 AllAfrica article on my client.
Note that although a summary of the judgment was read by the Trial Chamber
on 2 July 2009 the actual judgment is still not available.
Without going into too much detail, Léonidas Nshogoza was accused of 1)
meeting (purported) protected prosecution witnesses in violation of the
Kamuhanda witness protection order, 2) bribing them to provide false
recantations, 3) attempting to bribe another person (BUC) to give false
testimony, and 4) attempting to bribe three others who never had contact
with Nshogoza to give false testimony. The prosecution case essentially
relied on the testimony of GAA - a Kamuhanda prosecution witness who met
with Nshogoza in 2003 to recant his testimony, and who did so before the
ICTR Appeals Chamber in 2005.
According to the judgment summary, the Trial Chamber found Nshogoza guilty
of count 1, and not guilty of counts 2, 3 and 4. This means Nshogoza was
was acquitted on every charge alleging bribery, influencing witnesses,
procuring false statements and attempted bribery. The Trial Chamber did
not believe GAA.
It is incorrect to say that Nshogoza was arrested 'while bribing witnesses'
as he did not bribe witnesses. Rwandan authorities arrested him after
arresting GAA.
As Defence counsel for Léonidas Nshogoza I thought I might clarify some points raised in the 2 July 2009 AllAfrica article on my client.
Note that although a summary of the judgment was read by the Trial Chamber on 2 July 2009 the actual judgment is still not available.
Without going into too much detail, Léonidas Nshogoza was accused of 1) meeting (purported) protected prosecution witnesses in violation of the Kamuhanda witness protection order, 2) bribing them to provide false recantations, 3) attempting to bribe another person (BUC) to give false testimony, and 4) attempting to bribe three others who never had contact with Nshogoza to give false testimony. The prosecution case essentially relied on the testimony of GAA - a Kamuhanda prosecution witness who met with Nshogoza in 2003 to recant his testimony, and who did so before the ICTR Appeals Chamber in 2005.
According to the judgment summary, the Trial Chamber found Nshogoza guilty of count 1, and not guilty of counts 2, 3 and 4. This means Nshogoza was was acquitted on every charge alleging bribery, influencing witnesses, procuring false statements and attempted bribery. The Trial Chamber did not believe GAA.
It is incorrect to say that Nshogoza was arrested 'while bribing witnesses' as he did not bribe witnesses. Rwandan authorities arrested him after arresting GAA.
Allison Turner