Terror trial set for September

The trial involving musician Kizito Mihigo and three others will begin in substance in September this year, the spokesperson of the Judiciary Emmanuel Itamwa Mahame, has said.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The trial involving musician Kizito Mihigo and three others will begin in substance in September this year, the spokesperson of the Judiciary Emmanuel Itamwa Mahame, has said.

His revelation comes days after the Prime Ministers’ appeal for expedition of terror trials.

Mihigo together with Cassien Ntamuhanga a journalist, Jean-Paul Dukuzumuremyi and Agnès Niyibizi were arrested early this year in connection with hatching  a plot to plant grenades and kill several officials within the government and security agencies.

The Kacyiru Primary Court  in April denied the suspects bail and remanded them on grounds that they could flee the country and interfere with ongoing investigations.

"This case is not delayed,  It was  filed in court on May 26, when there were other cases going on so it was placed on September 12,” Mahame said.

Cases related to terror start in the High Court and the four suspects pleaded guilty to working with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia and RNC.

The FDLR is a terrorist group based in DR Congo comprising elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, while the Rwanda National Congress RNC), is an organisation of Rwandan fugitives with a base in South Africa.

Muhame said: "The scope in which a case should not exceed in court before it is tried is six months – this case is still within the required timeframe.”

The two groups, FDLR and RNC are alleged to be responsible for a spate of grenade attacks across the country that claimed lives in recent years.