Abram Mashego
Former Rwandan intelligence head, Patrick Karegeya, 53, who was found dead in a hotel room last week knew his life was at risk but asked to be removed from the SA Government’s protection in order to support his wife and three children – his family said on Sunday.
Karegeya’s wife Leah, fled to the US while three of his children moved to Canada due to safety concerns following red alerts by South African and International intelligence Agencies.
His nephew David Batenga said Karegeya had been under the South African government protection since 2007.
“He was living in a safe house and the state was providing everything for him but his wife and children needed financial support. He then requested to be removed from the protection in otder to do some consultancy businesses,” he said.
He said his uncle knew of the risk of assassination allegedly by the Rwandan ‘hit squads’.
The main suspect in Karegeya’s murder, “Apollo Kiririsi” from Rwanda remains at large. He was last seen with the deceased before the discovery of the body of the former Rwandan spy boss in the Michelangelo hotel in Sandton.
According to the family, the CCTV footage handed to the police shows one person entering the hotel where the deceased was found.
But some reports stated that the deceased was strangled by at least four suspects.
No arrests have yet been made.
abramm@thenewage.co.za
