CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Fulgence Kayishema, a former member of the Rwandan police accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide, has abandoned his request for bail and asked for asylum in South Africa, according to prosecuting authorities.
Kayishema, who was apprehended last month on a vineyard outside of Cape Town while using a false name, had been on the run since the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) charged him with genocide in 2001. He is charged with orchestrating the murder of 2,000 people who were seeking safety in a church.
He has denied any involvement in violence during the genocide but has said he was “sorry” for the killings.
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According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Kayishema is currently facing 54 accusations in South Africa, most of which are for violating the Immigration Act but also include multiple acts of fraud. She may also be charged with other crimes, the NPA added.
The NPA said the 62-year-old accused “has abandoned his bail application and will instead launch an asylum application today”.
It was unclear what grounds Kayishema was requesting refuge. Requests for additional information were not immediately answered by an NPA representative or a member of the defense team.
If the accused decides to petition for bail again in the future, the state will fight any request based on domestic accusations.
The case was continued until August 18 in order to do additional research while Kayishema remains in detention.
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