Laurent Semanza, former bourgmestre of Bicumbi commune for twenty years up to 1993, was born in 1944 in Musasa commune, Kigali rural prefecture.He was arrested in Cameroun by the Camerounian authorities on 27.3.1996. He was transfered to Arusha on 19.11.1997.

The indictment was filed by the Prosecutor on 16.10.1997 and the same was confirmed on 23.10.1997.The date for the initial appearance to be fixed.