Short hearing at the Paris court for Félicien Kabuga, suspected of genocide in Rwanda

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Very short hearing this Wednesday at the Paris Court of Appeal for Félicien Kabuga, considered to be the “financier” of the genocide in Rwanda. He was arrested a few days ago in France, after 26 years on the run. The court must rule on his transfer to international justice, so that he will be tried for genocide and crime against humanity. His lawyers have announced that they oppose the transfer and that their client wants to be tried in France. At their request, the examination of the case was postponed for a week.

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It was on a wheelchair, pushed by an escort of armed gendarmerie, that Félicien Kabuga entered the courtroom. Jeans, dark sweater, and mask on the face. He confirms his identity, in a hoarse, tired voice and in Kinyarwanda. He indicates that he is 87 years old and not 84 as mentioned in his arrest warrant.

Then Félicien Kabuga listens impassively to the list of charges brought against him. "  I would like to remind you that Mr. Kabuga has rights  " and that he is "  presumed innocent  " then launched Mr. Laurent Bayon, one of his lawyers.

The latter judge "  inadmissible  " that in the press release announcing his arrest, he was presented "  as one of the main Rwandan genocidaires  " while "  that his trial has not taken place  ". Félicien Kabuga "  wants to be tried in France  ", continues the lawyer. Announcing thus that he will oppose his transfer to the Mechanism, this body of international justice, created in 2010.

► Read also: Rwanda: Prosecutor Brammertz reviews the arrest of the genocidal Kabuga

The lawyer accuses the public prosecutor's office of "  rushing to get rid of his client  ", "  and seeing him tried elsewhere, especially not in France  ". He finally asked for a postponement of the hearing of 8 days, which was granted to him.

The lawyer general act quickly in order to reduce "as much  as possible the detention times  " of the octogenarian, who finally leaves the courtroom, always helped by his escort, but hand and fists raised, and under the encouragement fed by a few relatives, including several of his 11 children.

► Read also: Félicien Kabuga, suspect of genocide in Rwanda, was presented to the public prosecutor's office in Paris

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