Rwanda optimistic on fugitive’s extradition

GASABO - Though the Swedish government has delayed a decision to extradite Sylvere Ahorugeze, a Category One Genocide suspect, Rwanda says it remains optimistic that the transfer of this fugitive will fall through. Government said the Swedish move was not a surprise since the European nation had to respect the directive from the European Court of Human Rights. Last week, Swedish government officials announced they were sending back Ahorugeze in three weeks to stand trial after its highest court gave it a blessing. Speaking to The New Times, Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga, said this was “not a bad move” since it was a legal obligation that Sweden had to meet. “I think the Swedish government has not yet changed its position, so this should not sound strange to transfer his case to EU court,” Ngoga said, though admitting that no one knows what the EU court will decide after reviewing the case. The Chief Prosecutor however sounded hopeful that the battle will be won, referring to the awareness that has been created in Europe and all over the world about this extradition issue fifteen years after the Genocide. “We’ve done a lot to make this a priority in European courts and everyone there is aware of it,” Ngoga said. He insisted that Ahorugeze’s transfer to EU court of Human Rights will not constitute an end in itself. The 53-year-old former director of Rwandas Civil Aviation Authority was arrested in July 2008 at the Rwandan Embassy in Stockholm, where he had escorted his wife to renew her Rwandan passport. A month later Rwanda started requesting for his extradition. He is wanted on charges of Genocide and specifically accused of murdering 28 Tutsis in Kigali when the killings started. Ends

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Rwanda optimistic on fugitive’s extradition