He is charged with crimes against humanity and genocide for his alleged role in the massacre of hundreds of Tutsis in Kibungo province, including one carried out on April 13, 1994 by Hutu militiamen in a church in Kabarondo that left a thousand Tutsis dead.
Octavien Ngezi is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Rwanda in 2009. A case was also opened in France after a file was lodged by a French NGO.
He was indicted in June 2010 and then transferred from Mayotte to Fleury-Mérogis jail (Paris suburbs). His case is currently under investigation before the Lower civil court of Paris.
"I keep asking for his provisional release", his lawyer said. "We are told that he might try to escape, or that he needs to be under protection. I say, he would be better staying with his family".
Octavien Ngenzi's wife was granted political asylum in France in 2002. Some of their seven children have been given the French citizenship.
FP/ER/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency