Murekezi extradition case goes to High Court

Hearing of a fresh application by the State to extradite Rwandan national Vincent Murekezi failed to commence on Monday after the defence obtained a stay of the proceedings.

The defence also applied for a judicial review at the High Court Lilongwe registry, thereby prohibiting further hearing of the case at the magistrate’s court unless the higher court rules otherwise.

Senior assistant chief State advocate Steven Kayuni confirmed the development yesterday, but stressed the State was working on vacating the stay.

The State made another application three weeks ago to have Murekezi extradited after principal resident magistrate (PRM) Patrick Chilunga Chirwa dismissed the case on February 14 2017.

Among others, the PRM cited non-existence of relevant and bilateral treaties as some impediments to exchanging offenders between Malawi and Rwanda.

But on February 23 2017 the two governments signed the extradition treaty, thus, compelling the State to make a fresh application.

Kayuni said they were hoping to vacate the injunction and take the matter back to the magistrate court for hearing of their new application.

Following the fresh application, Malawi Government invited Rwanda to participate in the trial as ‘Amicus Curiae’ (a person or group who is not a party to a lawsuit, but has a strong interest in the matter).

According to Kayuni, a team of Rwandese prosecution agents had confirmed their coming but were stopped following the defence injunction.