Cape Town — The State has reportedly increased the charges against Ukiliho Kayishema Fulgence, a Rwandan fugitive who was arrested in South Africa in May after evading capture since 1994.
Fulgence, 61, is accused of orchestrating the killing of 2 000 men, women, and children at a church during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
He appeared at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday and his case was postponed to allow the defence to consult with him, as the State had raised the charges against him to over 50, and to decide whether they will apply for bail.
“Initially, the State charged him with two counts of fraud, and three counts of contravention of the Immigration Act.
“The State has increased the number of charges to 54, which includes nine counts of fraud, 10 of contravention of the Refugees Act, and 35 counts of contravention of the Immigration act,” IOL quoted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila as saying.
The case has been postponed to June 20, 2023.
Fulgence Kayishema, accused of ordering the killing of 2,000 people hiding in a church during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, was charged on 54 counts related to fraud and immigration offences https://t.co/bqtEv10sFk pic.twitter.com/RsQZX105oH
— paul okonji (@paul_okonji) June 9, 2023
South African police said Kayishema’s arrest was made in response to an Interpol red notice, and the suspect had been living under the false name of Donatien Nibashumba.
The hunt for Kayishema spanned countries across Africa, targeting a man who used many aliases and false documents and relied on a “network of trusted supporters”, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) said.
These included family members, members of the former Rwandan armed forces, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group “and those aligned with the genocidal Hutu Power ideology.”
The United States had offered up to $5 million reward for information leading to Kayishema’s arrest, transfer or conviction, but there have been no details as to whether this played a role in the capture.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
Additional reporting by AFP
