Posted by African Press International on May 10, 2008
Publisher: Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.apa
The Rwandan government has welcomed the important steps taken by the Kenyan authorities to freeze the assets of one of the 1994 Rwandan genocide chief financier and suspect, Felicien Kabuga, pending his arrest.
The government noted that the Kenyan action will serve justice to all criminals in the world that money cannot be a protection forever. According to Rwandan government security agencies, Kabuga has been hiding in Kenya through several disguises including changing his names.
The Kenyan government, through its Attorney General Amos Wako on Tuesday requested the High Court under a certificate of urgency, to freeze all assets belonging to the genocide fugitive. He is said to own a posh and luxurious block of flats in Nairobis upmarket Kilimani area which generates Ksh290, 000 (US$4000) in three months, several companies and bank accounts with millions of cash.
In an interview with the Rwandan minister of Justice and Attorney General, Thercise Karugaram, on Thursday in Kigali, he described the Kenyan action as a bold, serious and important step taken to freeze Kabugas assets who he described as a notorious genocide criminal. He noted that the fugitive has been using his money to evade justice over his crimes.
Its an important action and we thank the Kenyan authorities for being bold and showcasing that no one will try to use his wealth to evade justice from genocide crimes. He has been using his massive wealth in Kenya and other countries to finance other negative forces in Congo aimed at destabilizing Rwanda, Justice Karugaram said.
He however added that the freezing of Kabugas assets is not enough but his arrest is more important to make him face justice which he has been dodging for 14 years.
Kabuga was the proprietor of the hate radio and television Mille Collines that incited Hutus to kill Tutsis in the 1994 genocide.
In his ruling, the Kenyan judge, Mr Justice Muga Apondi said although Mr Kabuga is considered innocent, he should come out of his hiding and tell his story.
The judge further ordered the money collected from the rental of his houses be deposited with the deputy registrar at the Nairobi High Court.
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African Press International – api
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