Emmanuel Rukundo, former Military Chaplain in Ruhengeri prefecture, was transferred on Thursday 20 September 2001 from Geneva, Switzerland to the United Nations Detention Facility in Arusha, Tanzania. Rukundo, 42, was arrested in Geneva on 12 July 2001 at the request of the Tribunal.

The accused, who was born in Kabgayi, Gitarama prefecture, also served as Military Chaplain in Kigali in 1994 after being transferred from Ruhengeri.

The indictment against him contains four counts charging him with genocide, or in the alternative complicity in genocide, as well as crimes against humanity for murder and extermination.

Rukundo is alleged to have ordered, instigated, encouraged, aided and abetted the preparation and execution of the crimes against Tutsis in Gitarama prefecture.

In particular he is said to have organised and participated in hunts for Tutsi priests and nuns in various seminaries and convents in the prefecture and to have identified them to soldiers and Interahamwe militiamen so that they would be killed.

The Registrar of the Tribunal, Mr. Adama Dieng, expressed his appreciation to the Swiss authorities for their efficiency in executing the arrest warrant of the accused and the smooth processing of his transfer to Arusha. He thanked them for their continued co-operation in ensuring that the mandate of the Tribunal was fulfilled.

A Duty Counsel has already been assigned to assist the accused who will make his initial appearance before a Trial Chamber or a Judge of the Tribunal.