Relatives of Fulgence Kayishema, the Rwandan genocide suspect who was arrested in the Western Cape last week, believe that police have arrested the wrong person.
Also read: Case against Rwandan Genocide accused postponed
The 62-year-old suspect made a brief court appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday, following his arrest in Paarl last week, when his case was postponed until Friday, 9 June, for the state to add more charges.
Kayishema has been on the run for more than two decades after he was charged by the United Nations (UN) International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2001 for crimes against humanity.
He is alleged to have orchestrated the killing of 2 000 men, women and children at a church in Rwanda during the genocide.
‘At the time of his arrest at the grape farm in Paarl, he was living under a false identity of Donatien Nibashumba,’ explained Hawks national spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbombo, and added that he was arrested by SA Operational Task Team (OTT) comprised of Crime Intelligence, Home Affairs, International Relations, Interpol, the NPA and the Hawks (DPCI).
Meanwhile, speaking to EWN, family friend Joseph Habinshuti claimed this was all a mix-up.
‘It happened that he shared the same surname with the one who was the Premier of Kibuye, who’s also Kayishema,’ he told reporters.
‘When they arrested Kayishema Clement in 2006, instead of recognising that they made a mistake, they didn’t want to go again to the UN court and say, ‘we got our man’, they left him to be there.’
Kayishema is facing five charges, including identity fraud committed while hiding in South Africa.
‘When it was worldwide that they’re looking for Kayishema Fulgence, instead of Kayishema Clement, it was apparent that he must change his name, otherwise anyone that time, 1999/2000, you’re caught, you’re killed,’ Habinshuti explained why his friend needed to change his name.
‘Even now, the Rwandan government is still hunting people and go kill them wherever they are.’
Cape {town} Etc discount: Understand mental health better with an online training course for R179. Get it here.
Also read:
Rwandan genocide suspect arrested in Paarl after decades on the run
Picture: www.un.org