09.07.08 - RWANDA/FRANCE - FRENCH FINAL COURT OF APPEAL ANNULS KAMANA’S EXTRADITION

10 July 2008 By

Paris, 9 July 2008 (FH) – The French Final Court of Appeal cancelled Wednesday extradition to Rwanda of Claver Kamana, a former Rwandan businessman wanted by his country for 1994 genocide. The Investigation Chamber of the Court of Chambery, eastern France, on 2 April had approved the 72-year old Kamana’s extradition.

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The initial extradition decision was used by the ICTR prosecutor as an argument in favour of the transfer of an accused to Rwanda during a public hearing in Arusha at the end of April.

Kamana’s lawyer, Philippe Greciano, said that he was delighted by this decision. "It is a sign of appeasement in international relations”, he stated.

Kamana was arrested on 26 February. He is still in detention. He was sentenced to death in absentia by Rwanda.

Another Rwandan wanted by Kigali, Isaac Kamali, who has acquired French citizenship, was arrested in July 2007 as he tried to enter American soil. Returned back to France, he is still in detention waiting for extradition
clearance.

France, which handed over to the ICTR three Rwandans suspected of genocide, has, to date, never extradited any of them directly to Rwanda.

PA/PB/ERR/MM/SC