Rwandan businessman Vincent Murekezi accused of participating in the 1994 genocide against Tutsi has been held in Malawi, Nyasa Times understands.
Murekezi was arrested Thursday after Rwanda National Prosecution spokesman Nkusi Faustin confirmed that they have been asking Malawi for the extradition of Murekezi from 2009.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Dalitso Kabambe confirmed that Malawi government received “several requests” for extradition of genocide suspect.
Police arrested Murekezi and he is being held at National Police headquarters in Lilongwe, Area 30 waiting for removal directions.
“Mr Murekezi has been arrested. He is being held at Area 30 police headquarters. Police are waiting for directives from government on the process of extradition,” a police officer said.
Central Region Police spokesperson Noriett Chihana, Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula and National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera were coy to comment on the matter, saying it was sensitive.
But a visit to Murekezi’s home in Area 49 , Lilongwe by Nyasa Times reporters proved the law enforces stormed the house in the morning and picked the Rwanda genocide suspect. He was taken into custody at Central region police offices before being moved to Police Headquarters at Area 30.
The arrest, Nyasa Times understands, comes after Rwanda National Prosecution sent a fresh warrant of arrest for Murekezi.
Before being removed in the country, Murekezi will appear before court for an extradition hearing.
He plans to challenge his extradition.
Malawi government officials reportedly helped him to acquire the Malawi passport using the surname of Banda with passport number MA078171 in 2011.
His Rwandan passport number PC939663 indicates that his birthplace is Ngoma-Huye in Rwanda and those details appears in a Rwandan government record, which names him a suspect of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
In the MA07817 Malawi passport which he earlier obtained, Murekezi identified himself as a Malawian citizen from Mbeya in Tanzania.
He also identifies himself in the other passport as Vincent Murekezi whose birth place is Kigali, Rwanda.
Murekezi said he followed all the laid down procedures to obtain the Malawi documents.
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