Former Rwanda president begins appeal against incitement conviction News
Former Rwanda president begins appeal against incitement conviction

[JURIST] The first post-genocide president in Rwanda [government website], Pasteur Bizimungu [Wikipedia profile], begins his appeal process Monday before the Rwandan Supreme Court to challenge his convictions for inciting civil disobedience, associating with criminals and embezzling public funds. Bizimungu is currently serving a 15 year sentence and has continually denied his guilt. Prosecutors are seeking to have the sentence extended to a life term, while Bizimungu's defense counsel are seeking to reduce the former leader's prison time. Bizimungu was arrested in 2002 after trying to form a new political party which the government alleged was aimed at re-igniting tensions between the Tutsi and Hutu elements of the population. BBC News has more.