"All efforts including my recent mission to Nairobi in March 2009, to obtain from Kenyan authorities the particulars and circumstances of his [Kabuga's] alleged departure from Kenya have been fruitless", stated the ICTR prosecutor, Hassan Bubacar Jallow, in an interview with Hirondelle Agency Tuesday.
According to Jallow, the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi informed the Tribunal on 8 January, 2009 that Kabuga had already left Kenya.
The ICTR requested in vain from the Kenyan authorities to provide it with evidence attesting to the departure of the wealthy businessman and his destination, regretted the ICTR prosecutor, stressing that the arrest of Kabuga continues to be a top priority for the ICTR.
During his address before the UN Security Council on 4 June, Jallow had indicated to have "incontrovertible evidence that Kabuga entered Kenya in 1994 and was granted a residence permit as well as a permit to do business in that country".
In spite of repeated requests on behalf of the Tribunal for the arrest of the accused and the freezing of his assets, only a property, the Spanish Villa[ in Nairobi], has been seized to date," deplored the ICTR prosecutor.
Regarding other suspects at large, the Gambian-born Prosecutor had stated that there were "consultations" in progress with the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Jallow added that the majority of the 12 other people wanted by the ICTR are suspected to be hiding in DRC.
The Prosecutor reiterated before the UN Security Council for all states to cooperate with the ICTR in the arrest and transfer of the fugitives. Other suspects still on the run include the former Minister for Defence, Augustin Bizimana.
ER/MM/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency
