Génocidaire Kayishema abandons bail, launches asylum application

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 ABANDONS BAIL APPLICATION

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.

READ: Expanding List: Over 50 charges against Rwandan Genocide suspect

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.

READ: SASSA social grants: Here are the payment dates for July

“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.

KAYISHEMA’S LEGAL STRATEGY UNVEILED

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.

READ: At long last: ANC to elect new leadership in the Western Cape this weekend

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.