Genocide suspect denied bail

SWEDEN - A court in Sweden has turned down a bail application by the lawyers of Sylvere Ahorugeze, a Genocide fugitive. Ahorugeze’s extradition to Rwanda was halted by the European Human Rights Court pending further investigations. Last month, the Swedish Government ruled that Sylvere Ahorugeze who has been in detention for a year be extradited to Kigali to answer charges regarding his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. However his extradition that would have taken place on July 26 was halted by an appeal in the European Human Rights court over allegations that he would not be accorded fair trial once extradited. According to a statement released by the Rwandan Embassy in Stockholm, the District Court of First Instance in Solna ruled that Ahorugeze, who had requested bail on grounds of ill health remains in detention, while his extradition order remains active awaiting the judgement of the European Court. Ahorugeze, 53, is detained from Kronoberg and has been in custody for nearly 13 months. “The Prosecutor Mr. LARS Hedvall said that the government had decided on 18th July 2009, to send Ahorugeze to Rwanda because of the Genocide he committed there and the Swedish Government’s decision has not changed, despite the EU’s request to the Swedish Government to postpone his extradition until they look into the case.” The statement reads. The Prosecutor said that Ahorugeze is a suspect in Genocide crimes in Rwanda and the Supreme Court has taken a decision on the case basing on the information they got from Rwanda. The Judge also explained that the Embassy of Rwanda in Sweden was informed about the halting of extradition of Ahorugeze to Rwanda. The Prosecutor summed up his arguments saying that, the court should respect the decision of the government of Sweden to send him to Rwanda, and that Rwanda is ready to receive him. Following the hearing, the Judge said that, the decision of the Supreme Court and the Swedish Government were to extradite Ahorugeze to Rwanda and that despite the interruption by the EU Court, Ahorugeze is still a suspect in Genocide cases in Rwanda, and his extradition is still valid. Born in 1956, Ahorugeze served as the Director of the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority and Kigali International Airport in 1994. He is a category one Genocide suspect and his name features on the Interpol list of wanted fugitives. He was allegedly involved in killing some 25 people from the same family on the first day of the Genocide. After the end of the Genocide, Ahorugeze established himself in Denmark where he gained resident status. Ends

National

Genocide suspect denied bail