APM event affects Murekezi case: Minister Chiumia issues Rwandan extradition order

Rwandan genocide convict Vincent Murekezi deportation case failed to take place on Wednesday at Lilongwe magistrates court because the police and vehicles were sent where President Peter Mutharika launched the tree planting season event.

The magistrate Patrick Chirwa has since postponed the hearing to Friday.

A police officer told Nyasa Times that the police did not have a vehicle to pick up Murekezi from Maula Prison to the courts whilst police officers who provide security during Murekezi deportation hearing went to Kalambo Primary School in Area 25 to provide security during the tree planting exercise.

State prosecutor Steven Kayuni said Home Affairs Minister Grace Chiumia has already written a deportation letter for the millionaire genocide convict as the law provides.

“This means the court will consider the deportation request for Murekezi when the court meets on Friday,” he said.

Murekezi’s lawyer Gift Katundu said they were informed that there were logistical problems to bring their client to court.

“It is the duty of the State to bring the suspect to the court and I don’t know what those logistical challenges are,” Katundu said.

Katundu confirmed to have  receivied a copy of the Minister of Home Affairs removal directions and what remains is the extradition hearing

Murekezi, who now holds Malawian passport, was allegedly  convicted in absentia in Rwanda for his participation in the killing of 800000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a genocide that shocked the world