By RFIPosted on 21-12-2019Changed on 21-12-2019 at 00:41

Fabien Neretsé, a former senior Rwandan official found guilty of the "crime of genocide", was sentenced this Friday December 20 by the Brussels Assize Court to 25 years' imprisonment, a first in Belgium.

The acts of the accused, a 71-year-old Hutu, had " irreparable damage to all humanity " and " constitute atrocities that defy the imagination and deeply strike the human conscience, " the jurors said in their judgment, read by the President of the Court Sophie Leclercq.

" I am revolted. It is a scandal for the Belgian justice , reacted his lawyer Me Jean Flamme, announcing that his client was going to appeal in cassation. A sentence of 30 years' imprisonment had been requested Friday morning against Fabien Neretsé, convicted the previous day by the Assize Court of " crime of genocide " in Rwanda in 1994 .

" You will remember the extreme gravity of the facts [...], this desire to exterminate the other, " the prosecutor, Arnaud d'Oultremont, declared to the jurors, insisting on the " ruthlessness " of the accused.

► Listen: Genocide in Rwanda, the words of the disaster

A first

Fabien Neretsé, who claims his innocence, is the first Rwandan sentenced in Belgium for genocide. Thursday's verdict convicting him of the crime, after six weeks of trial, had been called " historic " by lawyers for the civil parties.

Fabien Neretsé proved to be " extremely organized, going so far as to set up a militia which played a decisive role in the massacres committed in an entire sector ", the jurors estimated Friday in their judgment, after more than six hours of deliberation . Furthermore, he " did not show any questioning ".

In his requisitions Friday, the prosecutor had asked the jurors to send " a clear signal " to the world: " It is to say: Sir, Madam, you will never sleep quiet and Belgium will never be a land of impunity for genocidaires and war criminals. "

" Genocide crime "

The accused's second lawyer, Jean-Pierre Jacques, insisted on the age of his client, " father of five children " and who has " nine grandchildren ". He had suggested a 15 year sentence. This argument was partly heard because Fabien Neretsé " benefits from extenuating circumstances due to his age, " said the president of the court, Sophie Leclercq.

The qualification of " genocide crime " was not retained during the first four trials in Brussels of Rwandan accused in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2009 . It covers the fact of having attacked an unknown number of people in the name of the desire to " destroy " the Tutsi ethnic group. This was highlighted by " overwhelming " testimony for Fabien Neretsé, according to the prosecution.

In addition to the " crime of genocide ", Fabien Neretsé was found guilty of " war crimes " against identified victims: nine murders in Kigali on April 9, 1994 and two others a few weeks later in rural areas.

(with AFP)

► See also: Genocide of the Tutsis: the responsibilities of France, according to David Servenay

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