RWANDA: Ingabire sentenced to eight years in prison

By Edwin Musoni

The High Court yesterday sentenced Victoire Ingabire to eight years in jail after finding her guilty of terrorism charges, endangering state security and denying the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“She has been sentenced to eight years for all the crimes that she was found guilty of,” judge Alice Rulisa told court.

The judge, however, cleared Ingabire on charges of promoting genocide ideology, saying all the statements Ingabire made did not indicate that she was calling for genocide.

The courtroom was filled to capacity, with speakers mounted outside the courtroom to enable those outside to follow the proceedings.

Ingabire is the leader of a yet-to-be registered political party, FDU-Inkingi.

The judge said Ingabire was found guilty of the “crime of conspiracy to harm authorities through terrorism and war” as well as denial of Rwanda’s 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“Another reason the court based on to reduce her sentence is because the crimes she committed were still in the planning phase and did not cause any major impact,” said Judge Rulisa.

The court also acquitted Ingabire of inciting the public against the leadership as well crimes of ethnic divisionism and discrimination.

Ingabire was not present in court. She had reportedly instructed her lawyers not to attend the proceedings. However, her British lawyer, Iain Edwards, made a surprise appearance at the court although he claimed he was not there to represent Ingabire.

Following the ruling, Edwards said he was going to appeal.

Ingabire was arrested in 2010 and so far she has served a quarter of her sentence which entitles her to apply for parole if none of the parties involved in the case appeals.

Prosecutor Alain Mukuralinda could neither confirm nor deny if the prosecution would  appeal.

“Reading the verdict took three hours, we need to first review it and find out if there is indeed something tangible that we could base on to appeal,” said Mukuralinda.

Meanwhile, Ingabire’s four co-accused were also sentenced yesterday, but handed lighter sentences.

Judge Rulisa said the court was lenient because the quartet pleaded guilty, cooperated with the court and that they were all first-time offenders.

“The court found Jean Marie Vianney Karuta guilty of conspiracy to harm authorities through terrorism and war, he is sentenced to two years and seven months. The Court also found Tharcisse Nditurende and Habiyaremye guilty of operating in a terrorist group and crimes of conspiracy to harmg authorities through terrorism and war, they are sentenced to three years and six months each,” read the verdict.

The fourth co-accused, Vital Uwimuremyi, was found guilty of “crime of conspiracy to harm authorities through terrorism and war  and complicity in the act of terrorism” and sentenced him to four years and six month of which he will spend the last year out of jail on probation.

Married and a mother of three, Ingabire, 44, returned to Rwanda in October 2010 with an intention to run for the Presidency but failed after her political party was barred from registering on grounds of not fulfilling all requirements. 

During the trial, prosecutors gave evidence of Ingabire’s alleged terrorist activities, including proof of financial transfers to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels based in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, whose members are largely responsible for the Genocide.

Reactions

Jean de Dieu Mucyo, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide.

The most important thing is that she was found guilty of particular charges; that is the major achievement for every friend of the judiciary. Regarding the sentence, I personally believe in the Rwandan Judiciary, definitely the judges sat and made their own analysis, they concluded by giving her eight years.

Prof. Peter Rwankindo, Director of Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace;

I followed this case thoroughly right from the time it began; honestly speaking this case is a clear proof of the independence of the Rwandan Judiciary. For example, if you follow some of the statements that Ingabire’s defense counsel was using during the trial, you would easily conclude that they were so daring but the court didn’t use that against them.

The lenience in the sentence is another proof of the independence of the Rwandan Judicially. In a situation where the charges against her amounted to a life sentence, the judges instead considered that Ingabire might reform and be integrated in the community.

Source: New Times (31/10/2012): http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15162&a=60157