On 11 February 2008, during his initial appearance before Judge Dennis Byron, Léonidas Nshogoza pleaded not guilty to the charges of contempt of the Tribunal and attempt to commit acts punishable as contempt of the Tribunal brought against him by the Prosecutor. Nshogoza was former investigator for the Defence during the trial of the Prosecutor v. Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda.

Léonidas Nshogoza is charged on four counts with: count one and two contempt of the Tribunal; count three and four attempt to commit acts punishable as contempt of the Tribunal. Nshogoza is accused of having committed the offences with intent to fabricate additional evidence and procure false statements for use in support of the appeal against conviction and sentence of Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda. He is also accused of interfering in the administration of justice.

Léonidas Nshogoza voluntarily surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) at its seat in Arusha, Tanzania on Friday 8 February 2008 and was immediately placed under ICTR custody and transferred to detention.

The accused was assisted by Defence Counsel Ms. Allison Turner and Mr. Richard Karegesya Senior trial Attorney was leading the Prosecution team assisted by Ms. Florida Kabasinga.