Genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga, whose provisional release was denied by a UN court on June 1, is set to appear in court again on Wednesday, October 6. Previously, on June 1, a defence motion seeking his provisional release was denied as the Trial Chamber of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals held a Status Conference in the Prosecutor v. Félicien Kabuga case, in the Courtroom of The Hague Branch of the UN court. The parties, through informal communication, earlier agreed to an in-person status conference at the Hague Branch of the Mechanism. According to the UN Court, in view of his current condition and care regime, Kabuga may choose to appear via video-teleconference link or waive his right to be present, should he elect to do so. The in-person status conference will be held on October 6 at 2.30 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Hague Branch of the Mechanism. In a motion filed on May 6, Kabuga requested a stay of proceedings on the basis of his health and, in the alternative, his provisional release on humanitarian grounds to an appropriate facility in The Hague to be identified by the Registrar in cooperation with the Defence. His lawyers claimed that, among others, based on medical reports, there is sufficient medical information to conclude that Kabuga is not fit to stand trial. The Prosecution, in response, also filed a motion, later, requesting that the defences motion be denied on the basis that: the request for a stay of proceedings, whether temporary or permanent, is premature; and that the requirements for provisional release are not met. Conditions required for provisional release are that: there must be compelling humanitarian grounds; the suspect does not pose any danger to Prosecution investigations or witnesses; and in light of the suspects condition, there is no flight risk. At the time, the Court also found that the Defence did not demonstrate that a request for a stay of proceedings was justified. The Court also considered the submission filed by the Government of the Netherlands on May 27 that it is under no obligation to facilitate Kabugas provisional release within its territory and that Kabuga failed to demonstrate that he is otherwise entitled to reside in the Netherlands during any provisional release. It further considered that, despite his age and current condition, Kabuga remained a fugitive for over two decades after the confirmation of his initial indictment on November 26, 1997. The Courts decision to deny the defence motion also was based on the fact that the Trial Chamber was not satisfied by Kabugas guarantees that, when necessary, he will appear for trial and surrender when required. Kabuga was detained at a UN detention unit at the Hague Branch of the Mechanism (UNDU), awaiting a detailed medical assessment to determine whether and under what circumstances he may be safely transferred to the Arusha Branch (in Tanzania) of the Mechanism for trial. Kabuga was arrested in France, in May 2020. He last appeared in the dock last November where he heard all his charges read during a live court broadcast. Kabuga pleaded not guilty after he remained silent during his initial court appearance. He is currently in the custody of the Mechanism in The Hague since October 26 when he was transferred from France. He is charged with seven counts including five related to genocide; genocide, complicity in genocide, director and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide. Other charges are persecution and extermination, both as crimes against humanity. Kabuga, known as the Financier of the Genocide, was a wealthy businessman and the president of what was called the National Defence Fund from about April 25, 1994, to July 1994. A core member of the Akazu – a small circle of architects of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Kabuga was also the founding president of the board of shareholders of hate radio RTLM, known as a key enabler of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The radio regularly gave detailed information about the people to be massacred and where they could be found. Until his arrest, Kabuga, 85, was on the run since August 18, 1994, when the Swiss security services let him slip from their grasp. As the genocide progressed, Kabuga was reportedly given a visa to enter Switzerland.
