Rwanda will apply a new justice system before the end...

Rwanda will apply a new justice system before the end of 2001. The new legislation is aimed at bringing thousands of prisoners before "people's courts" on genocide related charges. Rwanda currently has 12 court chambers countrywide handling such cases. The "gacaca" system is expected to be composed of about 10,000 courts, with an estimated 400,000 court officials.The "gacaca" law provides for the possibility of reduced sentences, especially for convicts who confess their crimes. Category One suspects who plead not-guilty incur "a death penalty or life imprisonment" whereas previous legislation provided for the death penalty only. If suspects plead guilty and confess, the law specifies a sentence ranging from 25 years to life imprisonment.Category One, who will still be answerable to the existing national courts, consists of "planners, organisers, instigators, supervisors and leaders of the crime of genocide or of crimes against humanity", perpetrators of sexual torture or violence, and notorious murderers whose criminal acts were marked by "zeal or excessive malice".