Vincent Murekezi (front): he will spend five years in jail
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Rwandan businessman, Vincent Murekezi, was on Monday sentenced to five years imprisonment for attempting to evade duty of about K2.2 million.
According to press statement by Anti-Corruption Bureau, made available to Maravi Post, Murekezi committed the crime in 2008 in collaboration with Komani Nyasulu, a Malawian national clearing agent.
“In 2008, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging that on 30th December, 2007, Komani Nyasulu a clearing agent, corruptly received K200, 000.00 from Vincent Murekezi, a Rwandan businessman in order to facilitate evasion of duty of about K2.2 million,” reads the statement in part, signed by ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala. Continue reading Rwandan businessman Murekezi sentenced to five-year jail term for duty evasion→
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The state through Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate, Steven Kayuni on Tuesday failed to move the court with evidence on charges against Rwandan businessman Vincent Murekezi who is suspected to have a hand in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Murekezi was arrested on December 8, 2016 after Rwanda National Prosecution spokesman Nkusi Faustin confirmed that they have been asking Malawi for the extradition of Murekezi from 2009.
Later the state came again with fresh charges that the suspect absconded court appearance on corruption-related charges, jumped bail and sneaked out to Zimbabwe using a Malawi Passport in 2008.
He appeared before court on December 13 where his case hearing was supposed to start.
Rwandan genocide suspect Vincent Murekezi
However senior assistant chief state advocate Steven Kayuni applied for the adjournment of the case saying the case involves international law hence need for the adjournment.
He said there was need to consult the Rwanda government and further asked for more 21 days to properly scrutinize the case.
Murekezi who is still on remand at Maula prison in the capital Lilongwe, was supposed to appear before court on Tuesday for the determination of his charges the state leveled against him following the expiry of the 21 days which the state applied for.
But the state failed to show up at the court to provide evidence, a development which has angered the defense counsel.
In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post at the court premises, Wapona Kita, a lawyer representing Murekezi expressed sadness over the state’s conduct.
Kita said it was unlawful for state to fail to bring evidence against their client as the court remains unmoved with the case.
He added that the defence team will wait from the state while looking into other avenues to release his client from prison remand.
Lawyer Kita who has taken defence team leadership from Gift Katundu argued that it was wrong for the state to bring in the issue of 2008 corruption charges, court appearance and bail abscondment and warrant of arrest at the time the defence has not even applied for bail in the genocide case.
“Looking at the way the state arrested my client we thought today, they move the court with evidence that case should resume. But we are surprised that today the state failed to show up without giving any concrete reasons.
“We will still wait the state while adventuring other avenues for the release of our client from remand prison as 21 days have expired without evidence”, said Kita.
Efforts to get reaction from Chief State Advocate Kayuni who is currently handling the matter before it is committed to the court proved futile as his mobile phone was out of reach.
Last month, The Maravi Post exclusively made revelations to the public that the UN documents and files indicated that Vincent Murekezi who is suspected to have a hand in the mass killing of 500,000 to 900,000 Tutsi in Rwanda popularly known as Rwandan Genocide, is not on the wanted list of the UN notorious list of Rwanda Genocide suspect.
Further investigations revealed that Vincent is believed to be a victim of his former friends who used to do business with him and their business deals went sour, and since they have political connections in Rwanda they decided to implicate him.
Consequently, the concerned citizens led by Philip Kamangira through the press conference on Thursday, in the capital Lilongwe had withdrawn the petition presented to Malawi Parliament some weeks ago that demanded the extradition of Murekezi.
The grouping withdrawal was based on misinformation gotten from the third party believed to be Murekezi’s business competitors saying they persecuted an innocent person.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost): Fresh revelations from the UN documents and files indicate that Vincent Murekezi who is suspected to have a hand in the mass killing of 500,000 to 900,000 Tutsi in Rwanda popularly known as Rwandan Genocide, is not on the wanted list of the UN notorious list of Rwanda Genocide suspect, The Maravi Post can reveal.
BLANTYRE—(MaraviPost)—Rwandan genocide suspect Vincent Murekezi, who is currently remanded at Maula Prison, has been caught in fresh ordeal as Malawi government has filed charges of corruption against him, Maravi Post has learnt.
Reports indicate that Murekezi, absconded court appearance on corruption-related charges, jumped bail and sneaked out to Zimbabwe using a Malawi Passport in 2008.
According to the Daily Times, a fresh warrant of arrest was executed Tuesday and Murekezi is expected to continue staying at Maula Prison in Lilongwe as Senior Resident Magistrate, Patrick Chirwa, has nodded to the state’s appeal for 21 days for further genocide charges’ discussion with Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority.
When the court convened yesterday, Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate, Steven Kayuni, said Murekezi was answering criminal case number 91 of 2008 in which him and Komani Nyasulu were arrested on corruption matter to do with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
“This has led to a warrant of arrest being executed on him this very morning and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had to liaise with the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau for the fresh arrest.
“The government of Malawi has an obligation to extradite or prosecute the suspect on genocide charges but considering the international standards in issues of genocide, it is our prayer that the 21 days should be given to the state for it to fully do all the proceedings needed for extradition process. There is also need for a further probe on the matter of corruption and bail abscondment,” Kayuni told the court as quoted in the Daily Times.
However, the defence team of Chimwemwe Sikwese and Gift Katundu are not comfortable with the 21 days, arguing seven days would be enough for the state to provide information on genocide charges to the defence.
Katundu also said it is wrong for the state to bring in the issue of 2008 corruption charges, court appearance and bail abscondment and warrant of arrest at the time the defence has not even applied for bail in the genocide case.
“They are saying that issue happened in 2008, eight years down the line, I think if it was an issue of looking for the suspect, it would have been done at that time not at this time. It has been raised at a wrong time. Just imagine, we have not even applied for bail but they are raising issues which should have even been raised at a time of bail application,” Katundu said.
But Kayuni rose and said abscondment of bail is a serious matter and it cannot be treated lightly as the police had been looking for Murekezi who also travelled with a different passport to Zimbabwe and this is an appropriate time for the state to raise the issue with the court.
Kayuni also said genocide is not just a matter of Malawi and seven days will not be enough to get more information from Rwanda which uses civil law jurisdiction while Malawi uses common law jurisdiction.
In his ruling, Chirwa said in his view the 21 days that the state asked for are reasonable looking at the complexity of the genocide matter and the provision in the Extradition Act.
He said the state was not wrong to bring in the 2008 matter in the context of the circumstances and the warrant of arrest can be executed at any moment. Chirwa said Murekezi must remain in custody as the state is looking for more information.
Murekezi, who is wanted in Rwanda for his suspected connection to the 1994 genocide which left an estimated over 800,000 people dead, holds two Malawian passports bearing different surnames of Banda and Murekezi.
The Rwandan government says the court already convicted Murekezi of war crimes and sentenced him to life imprisonment in absentia.
Bishop Simama- not happy with some biased online publications with an evil agenda
A renowned business tycoon and preacher Bishop Abraham Simama has on Monday vehemently rubbished the story published in some media house that he is sacrificing over K50 million to protect the arrested Rwandan genocide suspect Vincent Murekezi.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi police have arrested Rwandan businessman Vincent Murekezi who is accused of participating in the 1994 genocide in his home country.
According to impeccable sources, Murekezi was arrested Thursday (today) morning.
The arrest comes few days after Rwanda National Prosecution spokesman Nkusi Faustin confirmed that they have been asking Malawi for the extradition of Murekezi from 2009.
Malawi Police Inspector General Kachama
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Dalitso Kabambe confirmed that Malawi government received “several requests” for extradition of extradition of genocide suspect.
“Mr Murekezi has been arrested. He is being held at Area 30 police headquarters. Police are waiting for directives from government on the process of extradition,” a police officer said.
Central Region Police spokesperson Noriett Chihana, Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula and National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera were coy to comment on the matter, saying it was sensitive.
About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu militias in the 100-day slaughter in 1994.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some concerned citizens on Thursday petitioned the Malawi national assembly pressing government to expedite the Rwandan genocide fugitive Vincent Murekezi with an ultimatum of 48 hours.
Malawi IG Lexten Kachama is yet to intervene
The grouping want government to arrest and expedite fugitive Murekezi to his country where is supposed serve the life imprisonment after being convicted in1999 on crimes against humanity.
Presenting the petition to Parliamentary committee on defense and security, the grouping’s chairperson Phillip Kamangira said that the house should carry its own investigations on the matter and moves a motion in the house to prevent future occurrence.
Kamangira added that the petition also aimed at reminding government through the August House on treaties, protocol it signed on behalf of Malawians for the protection of human rights which Murekezi violated.
“The 48 hour ultimatum is to press government to arrest the genocide fugitive, and that his passports be withdrawn and stripped off Malawian citizenship. This is to comply with international protocols including AU Charter on human rights and People and African Convention on Prevention and Combating Corruption.
“We have enough evidence that Murekezi was convicted to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity during 1994 Rwandan Genocide and that has an international warrant of expedition on his head to his country. Malawi government must always reaffirm to these international protocols which are very beneficial to the citizens’ security hence our call to immediately comply”, said Kamangira.
After receiving the petition, Defense and Security Committee Chairperson, Olipa Muyawa assured the grouping that Parliament will carry its independent investigations on matter and move a motion to prevent the occurrence of such matters in the future.
Last month, The Rwandan national Prosecutor Fautsin Nkusi declared Murekezi as a convict and that he has been wanted in that country to face the life jail sentence for crimes against humanity.
Nkusi’ declaration came after Malawi government through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security cleared Murekezi of having a hand in the 1994 Rwandan genocide that has no any criminal record against him.
Nkusi also told Zodiak since 2009 his office has been waiting on the Malawi government through the Director of Public Prosecution’s office to extradite Murekezi.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Barely a day after Malawi government through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security cleared a Malawian of Rwandan origin Vincent Murekezi of having no hand in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities in Rwanda have declared that the man is indeed a genocide suspect hunted by the government.
Malawi IG Lexten Kachama is yet to intervene
The Rwandan national Prosecutor, Fautsin Nkusi, confirmed to Malawi’s local radio station, Zodiak, that fugitive Murekezi’s passport particulars also match the date of birth listed for the convict they have been hunting for.
According to the radio in all the three passports, two local ones and one Rwandese, the picture of Murekezi is the same and so is his date of birth Jan 6, 1962.
The village listed in the Rwandan Passport is also the same as that put against Murekezi’s name on the genocide suspect’s document.
Nkusi also told Zodiak since 2009 his office has been waiting on the Malawi government through the Director of Public Prosecution’s office to extradite Murekezi.
The radio is said to have gathered the 1994 genocide convict particulars with reference number of the case file RPGR 450/GEN/MJD/RE.
“That is true, this Emmanuel Vincent Murekezi is wanted fugitive and is subject to an International warrant of Arrest which was sent to Malawi in 2009, requesting them to extradite him to Rwanda to face justice on crimes of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity.
“We have been working with them and they have not yet responded but we are still in touch and it is the office of the Director of Public Prosecution there in Malawi (DPP) who we have been in touch with”, Nkusi explained.
However, the National Public Relations Officer for Malawi Immigration Office Joseph Chauwa revealed that Malawi granted Murekezi citizenship 2013 and a passport this year 2016.
Chauwa said the immigration did this after getting clearance from the National Police Headquarters and Ministry of Home affairs that Murekezi has no any criminal record.
“This person has a file- an Immigration file and he came to Malawi Sometime back, he first applied for Temporary resident, and then he applied for business Residence in 2005. Then in 2008, he applied for business residence then later he applied for Permanent Residence Permit. In 2013 he applied for citizenship which was granted to him. It is this year March 10, that a Malawi Passport was issued to him”, disclosed Chauwa.
