Genocide suspect Jean Paul Micomyiza has asked the court to dismiss a translated case file, arguing it is unreliable and fails to meet judicial standards.
Micomyiza, extradited from Sweden, is facing charges linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, allegedly committed in Huye District. He denies all accusations.
The case is being heard by the High Council Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes sitting in Nyanza. The court had ordered that documents originally in Swedish be translated into Kinyarwanda to support fair trial proceedings.
However, during the hearing, a language expert, Jean Marie Vianney Magirirane, told the court that the translation was done in stages—first from Swedish to English by other translators, and then from English into Kinyarwanda by his team.
Under cross-examination, Magirirane admitted he does not understand Swedish and was not involved in the initial translation. He also confirmed that the translators who handled the Swedish version were not presented before the court.
Micomyiza’s defense team, led by Me Karuranga Salomon and Me Rwigema Vincent, challenged the credibility of the report, arguing that it does not reflect the court’s instructions and lacks direct verification from a qualified Swedish-language expert.
They urged the court to disregard the document, saying it cannot be relied upon in determining the case.
The prosecution did not contest the expert’s submission.
In his own statement, Micomyiza argued that the explanations provided in court reflected internal procedures rather than the task assigned by the court.
The presiding judge said the court will review the concerns raised before deciding on the admissibility of the report. Proceedings are set to continue in June.
Micomyiza, also known as “Mico,” was a university student during the 1994 genocide and is currently detained at Mpanga Prison in Nyanza.
