Roundup: Malawi gov't effects fresh arrest for Rwandan genocide fugitive Murekezi

The Principal Resident Magistrate Court in Malawi capital, Lilongwe, Tuesday ordered fresh arrest on Rwandan genocide fugitive, Vincent Murekezi, for absconding court and jumping bail in 2008 corruption case.

Murekezi, who was already in Malawi Police custody pending extradition to Rwanda for the 1994 genocide atrocities, appeared before the Court for the extradition processes following his arrest on December 8.

But Senior State Advocate, Steven Kayuni, prayed to the court to adjourn the process for 21 days to allow the state thorough preparation of the case which he said involved international law and cooperation between the governments of Malawi and Rwanda.

The advocate also prayed for immediate arrest of Murekezi for absconding court and jumping bail in 2008 when he was co-accused in a corruption case.

"A warrant of arrest was issued this morning for Mr. Murekezi for absconding court at case-to-answer state and for jumping bail in a corruption case against the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)," Kayuni told the Court.

He added: "Mr. Murekezi fled to Zimbabwe on Malawian passport and the Malawi Police has been looking for him for 8 years until his arrest last week; we therefore pray for his arrest on the 2008 case."

Murekezi's lawyers, Chimwemwe Sikwese and Gift Katundu prayed to the court that it should consider cutting the adjournment period to 7 days and on the arrest, the lawyers argued that the issuing of the warrant of arrest was ill timed.

"The issue in question here is of genocide; why then bringing in warrant of arrest at this time for another case that happened 8 years ago? This warrant of arrest is wrong-destined," said Katundu.

But the presiding Principal Resident Magistrate, Patrick Chirwa, ruled in favour of the state saying the 21-day period of adjournment was reasonable considering that genocide was not just another case.

"We are looking at issues involving two governments here where there is need for a lot of correspondence and 21 days is a reasonable period," said Chirwa.

On the arrest, Chirwa said there was no limit for warrant of arrest as long as the arrest was effected on the subject the warrant was obtained for and that Murekezi "should be arrested and put in police custody as the court adjourns for the 21 days prayed for by the state."

Looking composed and cheerful to scores of fellow Rwandan refugees and asylum seekers who thronged the court, Murekezi walked out of the court in handcuffs and as the police vehicle reversed to take him in, the Rwandan fugitive offender shouted "Make it faster, faster; Jesus is Lord."

Vincent Murekezi, 54, is a renowned successful businessman in Malawi but he is reportedly on the Rwanda's wanted list of the 1994 genocide perpetrators.

He was arrested on December 8, 2016 by Malawi Police Service after the Malawi media blew his cover and exposed the inconsistencies between his Malawian and Rwandan passports which gave contradicting details as regards his name and place of birth.

The Rwandan government is also on record to have been liaising with Malawi government for Murekezi's the extradition. Enditem