A 65-year-old Rwandan beekeeper living in the US has been arrested over his alleged involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Faustin Nsabumukunzi is accused of committing “heinous acts of violence abroad” while serving as a local leader during the genocide, in which about 800,000 people were killed.
Nsabumukunzi is alleged to have set up roadblocks to detain and kill Tutsis and participated in killings.
He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in absentia by a Rwandan genocide court.
The suspect was arrested at his home in New York and faces charges of visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud.
He pleaded not guilty and was released on $250,000 bail, with conditions including home detention and GPS monitoring.
Nsabumukunzi’s lawyer described him as “a law-abiding beekeeper and gardener” and plans to fight the allegations. If convicted, Nsabumukunzi faces up to 30 years in prison.
