LONDON: A British court on Thursday granted bail to Rwandan intelligence chief Karenzi Karake after President Paul Kagame slammed his arrest as “absolute arrogance”.

Karake, who was arrested last week at London Heathrow Airport on a Spanish-issued warrant, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in the British capital wearing a yellow and green jumpsuit.

Asked whether he consented to his extradition, Karake, known as “KK”, replied: “I do not”.

District judge Quentin Purdy said that a full extradition hearing would take place on Oct 29 and 30.

“I am prepared to grant you conditional bail,” he said, setting the bail amount at pound1.0 million ($1.6 million) and ordering Karake to report to the police daily.

The 54-year-old general raised his clasped hands as he entered the dock, to cheers from supporters in the courtroom.

Karake’s defence team included Cherie Blair, the wife of Tony Blair. The former British prime minister is an advisor ongovernance to Kagame.

After the hearing, Karake was driven away in the same police van that he arrived in.

Rwandan Justice Minister Johnston Busingye told reporters outside court: “We will fulfil the conditions of the bail as soon as possible. We cannot wait to see him free.”—AFP

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2015

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