SA prosecuting authority declines to obtain arrest warrant for Prime Minister of India

20th July 2018 By: African News Agency

 SA prosecuting authority declines to obtain arrest warrant for Prime Minister of India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Photo by: Reuters

South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have declined to obtain a warrant of arrest for Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the NPA said in a statement on Friday. 

The NPA received a request last month from the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) to investigate, arrest and prosecute the Prime Minister of India for alleged crimes in Kashmir based on a report issued by the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

The association wanted Modi arrested when he attended the Brics summit in Johannesburg for his alleged involvement in war crimes and human rights violations in Kashmir.

NPA spokesperson, Luvuyo Mfaku said the request was investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (better known as the Hawks).

"The South African authorities engaged the Indian authorities in line with our legal obligations. After evaluating the evidential material, information received and the applicable law, the NPA decided that there is presently inadequate evidence to sustain a successful prosecution and to support an application for a warrant of arrest."