Hoikkala says the evidence collected by Rwandan police should be re-evaluated, as it mainly hinges on statements drawn from former prisoners.

On his trip to Rwanda, Hoikkala says he met with former inmates who had witnessed local police use torture to extract information. Hoikkala points to Finland being party to international anti-torture treaties, which forbid the use of evidence attained by torture in legal proceedings.

NBI: Courts to Weigh Evidence

Thomas Elfgren of the National Bureau of Investigation says the assertions made by the defence have already been taken into account in the investigation. Elfgren says it’s up to the courts to evaluate the material presented by the parties. He says the investigation will presumably be completed by summer.

The suspect, a Baptist preacher who worked in both Vaasa and Porvoo, has been remanded in custody in Finland for nearly two years. The deadline for filing charges is on Tuesday. The state prosecutor has, however, requested an extension of this deadline.

Finland is sticking to its decision to not extradite the man to Rwanda. The 57-year-old suspect sought political asylum in Finland in 2003. The man was arrested in 2007 on suspicion of planning, leading and implementing massacres. Suspicions were aroused in connection with a background study during the consideration of his asylum application.

The NBI investigation was carried out in cooperation with Rwandan authorities. More than 100 people have been questioned, including some convicted in Rwanda of involvement in the genocide.