Govt refutes UK Genocide case claims

Recent reports claiming that Rwanda refused formal requests to assist British police investigation into Genocide suspects living in the UK are aimed at jeopardising the on-going extradition processes, officials said.The British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was reported in the media last week that it had asked for “mutual legal assistance” to help the Metropolitan Police in 2010 but Rwanda refused.However, the Rwandan prosecution told The New Times at the weekend that there was no deliberate refusal to offer assistance but instead, Rwanda was looking at the most appropriate ways of having justice rendered. “Rwanda has never refused to cooperate with UK on the request to hand over evidence in the case against Emmanuel Nteziryayo. Our wish was that Nteziryayo and other accused persons are tried in Rwanda where the crimes were committed,” the prosecution spokesperson, Alain Mukurarinda, said.He said in 2009, UK courts rejected Rwanda’s extradition request in Nteziryayo’s case because of certain concerns.The country took measures to address the concerns thereof with a view to making further transfer and extradition requests, he said.He added that the claims of Rwanda’s refusal to cooperate with the UK Policy can only be seen as a diversion from the current extradition process in the UK courts.The other three suspects in question are Vincent Bajinya, Charles Munyaneza and Celestin Ugirashebuja. The four men were earlier this year arrested together with Celestin Mutabaruka.Their extradition hearing is scheduled for March 2014.

National

Govt refutes UK Genocide case claims