Fulgence Kayishema (L), one of the last fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, speaks to his attorney Juan Smuts (R) in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town on May 26, 2023, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)
Génocidaire Kayishema abandons bail, launches asylum application
Fulgence Kayishema, a former Rwandan policeman accused of participating in the 1994 genocide, has chosen not to apply for bail.
Fulgence Kayishema (L), one of the last fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, speaks to his attorney Juan Smuts (R) in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town on May 26, 2023, two days after being arrested following 22 years on the run. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)
Fulgence Kayishema, an alleged former Rwandan policeman who participated in the 1994 genocide, appeared in court on Tuesday, 20 June, and indicated that he would not be applying for bail.
Former Rwandan Policeman Charged with Genocide Abandons Bail Application in South Africa
The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court heard Kayishema would apply for asylum. He was arrested last month in Paarl, Western Cape, where he allegedly lived on a grape farm under a false identity.
He’s been on the run since 2001, when the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) implicated him for his alleged involvement in the Rwandan genocide. As previously reported, he is accused of ordering the deaths of over 2000 people.
In his first court appearance, the accused said he was sorry to hear about the killings and denied his involvement. Meanwhile, his family maintains that the authorities have arrested the wrong person.
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In South Africa, Kayishema faces over 50 counts – most of them are related to contravening the Immigration Act.
“On 9 June 2023, the State provided a comprehensive charge to the defence and the defence requested a postponement to consult their client.
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“Today Fulgence’s lawyer, Juan Smuts, confirmed that they did consult with their client and he instructed them that he was abandoning his bail application at this stage,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila.
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Smuts did not indicate whether his client would apply for bail at a later stage. The State will oppose the application if it is brought.
State Advocate Nathan Adriaanse told the court that the asylum application had no bearing on the ongoing court case. He also revealed that there is new evidence against the accused that will lead to additional charges.
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Some of the evidence reportedly implicates Kayishema in provinces outside the Western Cape. Therefore, Adriaanse said the NPA would apply for a centralisation certificate that allows all the cases against the accused to be heard in the Western Cape.
The matter was postponed to 18 August for further investigation. The accused is remanded in custody at the Helderstroom Prison in Caledon.
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