RWANDAN TRIALS IN FRANCE Current status Sentenced to 25 years, confirmed on appeal; definitively sentenced DEFINITIVE SENTENCE FOR THE Facts Pascal Simbikangwa who allegedly FORMER HEAD OF supplied weapons and other material INTELLIGENCE to Hutu officers or militia, was said The Pascal Simbikangwa trial was the first trial to take place in France involving a Rwandan citizen for their role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. to be responsible for roadblocks in the capital and to have instructed and encouraged militiamen to actively participate in the crimes. On 28 October 2008, he was arrested by French Police in Mayotte for trafficking fake identity cards, under the false identity of “Safari Senyamuhara”. His correct identity was discovered during his detention. Suspect Procedure Head of the Service Centrale des Renseignements (SCR), the Central Intelligence Service in Rwanda On 13 February 2009, the “Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda” (CPCR) filed a criminal complaint in Mayotte. Pascal Simbikangwa Context Country of residence of suspect France Charges Genocide, aiding and abetting genocide, and aiding and abetting crimes against humanity Developments in 2018 On 24 May 2018, the French Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) rejected his appeal, thus definitively confirming his conviction for genocide and complicity to crimes against humanity, and 25year prison sentence. On 1 March 2013, the Office of the Prosecutor of the French specialized unit for the prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture within the Paris Tribunal (hereinafter “the specialized unit”) requested the indictment of Pascal Simbikangwa for aiding and abetting genocide, and aiding and abetting crimes against humanity committed in Rwanda between April and July 1994. He was indicted for these crimes on 29 March 2013. Pascal Simbikangwa’s trial opened on 4 February 2014 before the Paris Criminal Court (Cour d’Assises). The prosecutor requested a life sentence. On 14 March 2014, the Court sentenced Pascal Simbikangwa to 25 years’ imprisonment for his participation in the genocide, and for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity. 33 On 18 March 2014, he filed a notice of appeal. His sentence was upheld on appeal on 3 December 2016. The appeal hearings took place from 24 October to 3 December 2016. On 3 December 2016, the French Criminal Court (Cour d’Assises de Bobigny) confirmed the verdict on appeal and upheld his sentence of 25 years imprisonment for genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity. His defense lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation). On 24 May 2018, the Criminal Chamber of the French Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) rejected the appeal, confirming Simbikangwa’s conviction and sentence. Read more about the case