Rwandan war criminal jailed in US
Publish date: 08 July 2019
Issue Number: 831
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: General
A Rwandan man who hid his involvement in the 1994 genocide was last week sentenced to eight years in jail. US Attorney Andrew Lelling said Jean Leonard Teganya committed 'the most serious form of immigration fraud' by 'lying about his status as a war criminal to secure asylum'. BBC News reports that Teganya denies he was involved in the genocide, but prosecutors said he participated in at least seven murders and five rapes during that time. While the trial was over his immigration status and not the genocide, the case proved a challenge for the judge. 'Do I sentence him as a liar or do I sentence him as a murderer, or a rapist, or genocide participant?' said Judge Dennis Saylor.
