This case summary is part of a collection of summaries describing the cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). See the Online Resource Hub pages on the ICTR and International Criminal Law, and table of ICTR case summaries for additional information.
Trial Judgment: 15 July 2004; Appeal Judgment: 16 January 2007
Emmanuel Ndindabahizi, the former Rwandan Minister of Finance for the Interim Government, stood trial for organizing attacks on Tutsis in Kibuye Prefecture, distributing weapons to attackers, and transporting members of the Interahamwe militia to join in attacks in Kibuye. The prosecution charged Ndindabahizi of direct responsibility for genocide and crimes against humanity for acts of extermination and murder.
In 2004, an ICTR Trial Chamber convicted Ndindabahizi of genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity for instigating, facilitating, assisting attacks against Tutsis who had gathered at Gitwa Hill in Kibuye Prefecture and convicted Ndindabahizi of genocide and murder as a crime against humanity for encouraging and aiding in the killing of Tutsis at a roadblock in Gaseke, Kibuye Prefecture.
In 2007, the ICTR Appeals Chamber narrowly reversed the Trial Judgment with respect to Ndindabahizi’s conviction for genocide and murder as a crime against humanity for the death of one victim Gaseke; affirmed Ndindabahizi’s conviction for genocide and murder with respect to other killings that occurred in Gaseke; and affirmed Ndindabahizi’s conviction for genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity for the killings at Gitwa Hill. The Appeals Chamber upheld the Trial Chamber’s life sentence.