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Court orders extension of detention of six suspects

Judge Navanethem Pillay today ordered an extension of provisional detention of six suspects arrested in Nairobi in July 1997, to enable the Prosecution finalise its investigations before it can come up with their indictments. This is the third and final extension the court can grant according to the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Tribunal

Among the suspects was Jean Kambanda, a former Prime Minister of Rwanda, who, however, did not oppose the detention. His was extended for another 30 days, as from tomorrow.

A former Editor-in-Chief of Kangura newspaper, Hassan Ngeze, had his detention extended for another 20 days, commencing on September 17, 1997. The Prosecution had told the court that the final version of his indictment was presently under review by the Prosecutor in The Hague.

Judge Pillay also found special circumstances existed to warrant an order for the extension of detention in the cases of Gratien Kabiligi, a former General in the General Staff of the Rwandan Army, Sylvain Nsabimana a former Prefect of Butare, and Aloys Ntabakuze, a former Commander of the Para-Commando Battalion of the Rwandan Armed Forces. Their detention was extended for another 30 days commencing tomorrow.

Another order for an extension of detention in the case of Georges Ruggiu, a former Journalist and Presenter on Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines {RTLM), was granted by the court. However his extension for 30 days commences on September 22, 1997 because his present detention expires on September 21, 1997.

According to Rule 40 bis of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Tribunal the detention of a suspect shall not exceed 90 days, at the end of which, "in the event the indictment is not confirmed and an arrest warrant signed, the suspect shall be released or, if appropriate, be delivered to authorities of the requested state."

For information only - Not an official document

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