Emmanuel Altit, the lawyer of Kabuga Felicien, accused of genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, asked for his release because of his poor state of health .
He made the request during a hearing on March 8, 2023 after an expert report on Kabuga’s health pointed out that his condition was critical and he was unable to attend. his trial.
This is a report from a court-appointed medical expert, which is issued every 14 days.
During a hearing on March 8, 2023, the court received this report stating that Kabuga’s physical and mental health is of serious concern.
This three-page report indicates that Kabuga suffers from “clinical dementia”. It is a syndrome that causes impairment of memory, reasoning, behavior and the ability to carry out daily activities. It mainly affects the elderly.
Lawyer Emmanuel Altit said the report only “reinforces” what the defense has been saying in court for months since May 2022.
He said the report contained clear and concise information that Kabuga was unable to attend the trial and that the court had to accept “the facts” of the expert report.
He demanded that Kabuga be released immediately for these reasons. Otherwise, the court will not respect his rights.
“How can someone who is not in good health find a valid answer? We believe that going ahead with their trial is a bad decision,” he said.
Judge Ian Bonomy said the court will consider Kabuga’s request for release.
A member of the prosecution, Rupert Elderkin, said Kabuga had physical and mental health issues before the start of the trial, but has since progressed and been able to follow the trial.
He said that the end of this case would be premature, and would only happen if the defendant died. Which is not the case for Kabuga.
He requested that Kabuga undergo further medical examinations and that if necessary, the case could be adjourned for a period of time, allowing Witness KAB041 time to conclude his testimony against Kabuga.
Prosecutors criticized the scope of the expert report, saying it did not contain as much detail as the December 2022 report.
The judge said the court will decide today, March 9, 2023 whether or not to proceed with the hearing of KAB041’s testimony accusing Kabuga.
Kabuga, aged 90, is considered the financier of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
He was arrested in Asnières-sur-Seine in France on May 16, 2020. He is currently being held in The Hague, the Netherlands.
