The Prosecutor v. Édouard Karemera, Matthieu Ngirumpatse, and Joseph Nzirorera

Case Sheet · ICTR

Case number	ICTR-98-44
Case Name	"Karemera et al."
Status	Closed · Sentenced Closed · Sentence Served Closed · Deceased

Context

Édouard Karemera was trained as a lawyer and was Minister of the Interior in the Interim Government of 8 April 1994, taking the oath of office on 25 May 1994 and continuing in that capacity until the Interim Government fled from Rwanda in July 1994. During 1994 he was also First Vice-President of the MRND political party and a member of the party’s Steering Committee, serving in that capacity since July 1993.

Matthieu Ngirumpatse trained as a lawyer and during 1994 was President of the MRND political party and a member of the party’s Steering Committee, serving in that capacity since July 1993. He previously served as Minister of Justice in Rwanda’s first "multi-party" government of 31 December 1991, and was also Secretary-General of the MRND from May 1992 through July 1993 and a member of its Steering Committee. Previously he was also Ambassador to Germany and Ethiopia, Director General for Foreign Affairs in the President’s office and general manager of SONARWA, an insurance company.

Joseph Nzirorera during 1994 was National-Secretary of the MRND political party and a member of its Steering Committee, serving in that capacity since July 1993. He was also a member of the Chambre des Deputds in the Assemblde Nationale, representing the MRND and Ruhengeri prdfecture in that capacity, and served as President of the AssembHe Nationale in the Interim Government of 8 April 1994. Previously Joseph NZIRORERA was Minister of Public Works in the MRND government of 15 January 1989 and was Minister of Industry, Mines and Artisanry in the MRND governments formed on 9 July 1990 and on 4 February 1991. Joseph NZIRORERA was a member of the MRND Steering Committee throughout the period 1992 - 1994 and even prior to 1991.

Pre-Trial

Initial Indictment	29 April 1998
Amended Indictments	18 February 2004 23 February 2005 24 August 2005 23 August 2010
Crimes Charged	Édouard Karemera Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Complicity in genocide · art. 2(3)(e) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS Matthieu Ngirumpatse Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Complicity in genocide · art. 2(3)(e) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS Joseph Nzirorera Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Complicity in genocide · art. 2(3)(e) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS
Arrest and Transfer	Édouard Karemera 5 June 1998 · Arrested in Togo · Transferred to ICTR 11 July 1998 Matthieu Ngirumpatse 5 June 1998 · Arrested in Mali · Transferred to ICTR 5 June 1998 Joseph Nzirorera 5 June 1998 · Arrested in Benin · Transferred to ICTR 10 July 1998
Initial Appearance	Édouard Karemera 16 July 1998 · Plea: Not Guilty Matthieu Ngirumpatse 16 July 1998 · Plea: Not Guilty Joseph Nzirorera 16 July 1998 · Plea: Not Guilty

Trial

Trial Chamber	Trial Chamber III · Judges: Judge Dennis C.M. Byron (presiding), Judge Gberdao Gustave Kam, Judge Vagn Joensen
Trial Opening	19 September 2005
Termination of proceedings against Joseph Nzirorera	12 August 2010 due to the passing of Joseph Nzirorera on 1 July 2010
Trial Judgment	2 February 2012
Crimes at Trial Judgment	Édouard Karemera Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS Matthieu Ngirumpatse Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS
Sentencing Judgment	Édouard Karemera Life imprisonment Matthieu Ngirumpatse Life imprisonment

Appeal

Appeals Chamber	Appeals Chamber · Judges: Judge Theodor Meron (Presiding) Judge Fausto Pocar, Judge Arlette Ramaroson, Judge Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov, Judge Koffi Kumelio A. Afande
Appeals Filed By	Both
Appeal Judgment	29 September 2014
Crimes at Appeal Judgment	Édouard Karemera Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS Matthieu Ngirumpatse Genocide Genocide · art. 2(3)(a) ICTRS Conspiracy to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(b) ICTRS Direct and public incitement to commit genocide · art. 2(3)(c) ICTRS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 3(b) ICTRS Crime against humanity of rape · art. 3(g) ICTRS Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 4(a) ICTRS
Final Sentence	Édouard Karemera Life imprisonment Matthieu Ngirumpatse Life imprisonment
Transfer to Serve Sentence	Édouard Karemera Senegal 31 August 2020 · Death Matthieu Ngirumpatse Senegal

Key Documents

Amended Indictment	Amended Indictment (2004)
Decision Terminating Proceedings against Nzirorera	Decision Terminating Proceedings (2010)
Trial Judgment	Trial Judgment (2012)
Appeal Judgment	Appeal Judgment (2014)
ICTR Case Page	Official ICTR page

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