Charles Bandora might be the next genocide suspect to benefit from the government’s legal aid following his claim of indigence on the first day of his trial in merits recently.

The suspect, who was extradited from Norway in March following his arrest in 2010, told the special chamber of the High Court trying extradited cases and those sent to Rwanda by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that he was running out of resources to pay his two lawyers.

“Considering the contract I have with my lawyers, I don’t think I will be able to execute my obligation in the future,” Mr Bandora, 60, told the three-judge bench.

According to his lawyers, a formal request has been sent to the Ministry of Justice seeking legal assistance.

READ: Cost of genocide cases runs into millions of francs, public to pay

The request would not stop the judges from starting to hear his case in substance though, as the defendant and his lawyers assured the court that his defence was assured for the time being.

Mr Bandora has pleaded “Not guilty” to six charges — including genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, extermination and murder as crimes against humanity.

Influential position

The prosecution asserts that Mr Bandora’s role in the alleged offences is emphasised by his position as an influential businessman and high-ranking member of National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND).

“Bandora was the chairman of MRND in Ngenda Commune from 1975 to 1993, then became the vice-chairman,” the prosecutor said. “Even then, he was more influential than the new chairman.”

The court heard that Mr Bandora was a core planner of the genocide in the former Ngenda, now Bugesera District, organising and presiding over meetings.

“On April 7, 1994 after the death of then president [Juvenal] Habyarimana, Bandora organised a meeting at his home that was attended by the Bourgoumestre of Ngenda Commune, Hategekimana Samuel, representatives of the army and police in the commune and several businessmen.”

That meeting was the trigger of killings in Ngenda, said the prosecutor, adding: “In the meeting, two businessmen committed themselves to providing machetes that were used in mass killings.”

Witness accounts say Mr Bandora organised and participated in the killing of between 500 and 600 Tutsis who had taken refuge at Ruhuha Church, Ngenda.

“Together with Bourgoumestre Hategekimana, Bandora was seen at Ruhuha parish supervising massacres,” the prosecutor said.

Prosecution is yet to state its desired penalty for Mr Bandora but the charges against him could attract life imprisonment, the highest sentence under Rwandan law.