March 9-15, 2015

Six jailed for life over Musanze terror attacks

Private but pro-government newspapers

New Times, 13th March 2015

“‘Six jailed for life over Musanze terror attacks” by Jean d'Amour Mbonyinshuti

• The High Court in Musanze sent six people, among them two women, to spend the rest of their lives in prison after finding them guilty of working with FDLR, and carrying out terror attacks in the district.
• The court also sentenced five others to 10 years in jail. Three of the accused were, however, acquitted. The ruling that lasted close to three hours, took place at Musanze’s Ubworoherane Stadium.
  
• Jotham Nsengiyumva was successfully prosecuted for masterminding the terrorist attacks after undergoing military training in FDLR camps in DR Congo. The others sentenced to life are Sadik Habimana, Emmanuel Rukera, JMV Uwihanganye, Belancile Nyiransabimana and Agnes Murekatete.
  
• Eliavane Tuyishimire, Angelique Nyiransengimana, Jean Bosco Nsabimana, Theoneste Kamali and Niyitegeka alias Muyaga received 10-year jail terms each.
  
• Jacques Kizere, Tite Munyaziboneye, and Fiacre Niyomugabo were acquitted after the court found them not guilty.
  
• The 14 suspects were arrested at the end of 2013. They were accused of conducting three terror operations, one targeting the home of Musanze mayor Winifrida Mpembyemungu, where a baby was killed and two others injured.
  
• Another terror attack claimed the life of Clement Mucyurabuhoro, a policeman who was shot dead, while the third attack left several people injured when a grenade was thrown near the Police College in Musanze town.
  
• Jotham Nsengiyumva had also told the court that Northern Province governor Aime Bosenibamwe had aided and abetted terror acts in his Northern Province jurisdiction, an allegation Bosenibamwe vehemently denied. Nsengiyumva said he held several meetings with the governor, who paid him about Rwf3 million in installments after the three grenade attacks.
  
• The court rejected the accused’s claims, saying he was concocting the story as he never disclosed this particular line of story during interrogations by both police and the prosecution.
  
• Police spokesperson Celestin Twahirwa said before the ruling that investigations on the accusations were ongoing and both the suspect and the governor have been interrogated over the matter.