WICHITA — A federal judge will decide whether to exclude evidence seized last year at the Topeka home of a man accused of participating in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
U.S. District Judge Monti Belot heard testimony this morning from two Virginia men who acted as interpreters of letters, writings and conversations in the Rwandan language by 83-year-old Lazare Kobagaya.
Kobagaya’s defense is arguing U.S. authorities improperly seized letters, photographs and other items based on the biased translations of the interpreters.
The two men testified they simply interpreted letters and conversations between Kobagaya and federal agents. They said they had no background or knowledge about the searches and didn’t participate in taking of items.
Kobagaya is scheduled for trial Oct. 12 on charges of fraud and unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship in 2006. Prosecutors said he lied about being involved in the genocide.
Kobagaya denies participating in the violent acts and has said he was fleeing Rwanda during an ethnic civil war that left as many as 700,000 people dead between April and July 1994.
If convicted, Kobagaya could be deported.