Arusha — Convicted in first instance and appeal, then acquitted in revision, Theogene Ndekezi, an ordinary citizen from Rwezamenyo, in Kigali, will be tried again on Sunday for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide, but this time, in absentia.

Before gacaca judges from his sector, he had been sentenced to 19 years in prison in first instance, then to 30 years in appeal. At the end of 2007, at the end of a re-trial, he was acquitted on allegations of corruption.

But since then, nobody re-examined it any more in the district.

"We have already issued three subpoenas to appear, but he does not want to present himself. The trial will take place on Sunday, with or without him", Philbert Munyandinda, President of Nyakanda Court told Hirondelle Agency.

Ndekezi is accused of having murdered a man named Rugero and his family, during the 1994 genocide. According to his wife, Madeleine Kubwimana, the fugitive would be currently living in his native village in the former prefecture of Gisenyi (northern Rwanda).

The Rwezamenyo sector has the record for cases tried in revision.

Inspired by Rwandan tradition, the gacaca courts, which the judges are designated from among the community, are charged with trying alleged authors of the 1994 genocide which resulted, according to the UN, in nearly 800 000 killed, primarily Tutsis.

They can sentence up to life in prison in isolation, the maximum sentence in Rwanda.

According to the official calendar, they should complete their work by end of June.

According to the ministry of justice, they have already tried nearly 1.5 million people.