Facts
The suspect, a Rwandan national who allegedly served as the head of nurses and midwives at a medical centre during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, is accused of having participated in numerous acts of sexual violence (rape) and killings of members of the Tutsi civilian population.
The suspect allegedly facilitated the identification of Tutsis and participated in attacks on schools, churches and a medical centre.
Procedure
In September 2020, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration transmitted an anonymous denunciation to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The denunciation referred to a report issued on 14 May 2020 by the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) of the Republic of Rwanda, titled ‘The Significance of Doctors, Nurses and Medical Staff’s Role in the Genocide against the Tutsi’.
On 6 August 2021, based on this information, the OAG opened a criminal investigation into the suspect on suspicion of war crimes.
On 16 February 2022, the Swiss authorities requested mutual legal assistance from Rwanda.
Between 2022 and 2024, the suspect was questioned multiple times by the OAG.
On 27 November 2024, the suspect was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention.
On 22 April 2025, the Federal Criminal Court confirmed the extension of the suspect’s detention, finding that the charges were sufficiently substantiated at this stage.
Nine individuals have reportedly filed criminal complaints against the suspect.