A witness in a previous case before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) pleaded guilty today to one count of giving false testimony under solemn declaration. He also pleaded not guilty to 5 other counts in an indictment against him for accepting a bribe to give false testimony and for attempting to bribe other witnesses and potential witnesses to give false testimony.

At his initial appearance, the Accused code named GAA, admitted that he willingly gave the false testimony when he appeared before the Appeals Chamber on 18 May 2005 in the case of Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda who appealed against his conviction and sentence. GAA repeatedly acknowledged that his testimony was false and asked for forgiveness.

This is the Tribunal’s first prosecution for contempt of court and for giving false testimony during its proceedings. The case arises out of an investigation by the Office of the Prosecutor on the direction of the Appeals Chamber. On 23 March, the ICTR Prosecutor issued the 6 count indictment against GAA.

The indictment charges GAA with Count 1, knowingly and willingly giving false testimony under solemn declaration; Count 2, contempt of the Tribunal by knowingly and willingly interfering with its administration of justice for accepting a bribe for knowingly and willingly providing false testimony and a false statement; Count 3, attempting to commit acts punishable as contempt of the Tribunal by knowingly and willingly interfering with its administration of justice by attempting to suborn false testimony under solemn declaration from, by offering a bribe to, or otherwise interfering with Witness GEI; Count 4, attempting to commit acts punishable as contempt of the Tribunal by knowingly and willingly interfering with its administration of justice by attempting to suborn false testimony under solemn declaration from, by offering a bribe to, or otherwise interfering with Witness GAF; Count 5, attempting to commit acts punishable as contempt of the Tribunal by knowingly and willingly interfering with its administration of justice by attempting to suborn false testimony under solemn declaration from, by offering a bribe to, or otherwise interfering with SP-004, a potential witness; Count 6, attempting to commit acts punishable as contempt of the Tribunal by knowingly and willingly interfering with its administration of justice by attempting to suborn false testimony under solemn declaration from, by offering a bribe to, or otherwise interfering with SP-003, a potential witness.

Judge Dennis Byron, President of the ICTR, presided at the initial appearance. He ordered the Registrar to set a date for the Trial Chamber to examine the guilty plea and to start the trial on the 5 counts to which the Accused pled not guilty.

The offence of giving false testimony under solemn declaration is punishable by up to five years in prison and or a fine of $10,000.

GAA was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda on 30 July, 2007 and transferred to the Tribunal on 1 August 2007.

Richard Karegyesa, Senior Trial Attorney, appeared for the Prosecutor.

The Accused is represented by Mr. C. J. Maruma, a duty counsel for the ICTR.