BACKGROUND The background of the case can be summarized as follows: 5. The Applicant, a Burundi citizen and a businessman was arrested on 15th March 1989 and detained until 6th August 2002 when he was released. After his release, he filed a case registered under Reference RAC 2048 against the Government of Burundi in the Administrative Court of Burundi claiming damages for losses his pharmaceutical enterprises suffered following his alleged arbitrary imprisonment and closure of his business. 6. On 14th June 2004, the case was determined in favour of the Applicant and the Government of Burundi was condemned to pay him a total amount of BIF 1,000,300,000.00, the latter amount to be increased by the payment of interest of 6% per annum from the date of the judgment until full payment. 7. The Attorney General of the Republic of Burundi, aggrieved by the judgment, filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Burundi, Administrative Chamber and the case was registered under Reference RAA 669. 8. The Applicant thereafter filed a preliminary objection opposing the admissibility of the case by the Supreme Court, arguing that it was filed out of the one month period to lodge an appeal as prescribed by Article 197 of the Civil Procedure Code of Burundi. 9. On 26th March 2012, the Supreme Court delivered a preliminary ruling on the matter, rejected the objection raised by the Applicant, and invited the parties to file their substantial pleadings. REFERENCE No. 2 OF 2013 Page 3