The High Court in Kigali has started examining the basis of appeal by seven men and one woman who are accused of forming an irregular armed group.

All defendants claim to be members of FDU-Inkingi, an unregistered political party in the country.

Two weeks ago, the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court had remanded the group for 30 days pending further investigations.

They are Papias Ndayishimiye, Gratien Nsabiyaremye, Evode Mbarushimana, Leonille Gasengayire, Norbert Ufitamahoro, Boniface Twagirimana, Fabien Twagirayezu and Erneste Nkiko.

The same court also released another suspect.

Appearing in court on Tuesday, the suspects argued that the decision of the judge in  the lower court did not take into consideration their arguments, insisting that they were illegally arrested.

The presiding judge set October 24 as the date to rule on the bail application.

Earlier, Boniface Twagirimana, said to be the vice president of FDU-Inkingi, said prosecution had lied to the lower court when it said that he provided money to fund recruits who joined an armed group in DR Congo, including some of his co-accused.

Leonille Gasengayire, another suspect, maintained that she is innocent, telling court that she had been in jail before when she came out and did not flee the country.

Gasengayire told court her  only involvement in the case was to get money to buy foodstuff for their incarcerated president Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, adding that the money was not meant to fund those going to join the armed group calling itself P5.

Meanwhile, Papias Ndayishimiye and Norbert Ufitamahoro, who had earlier admitted to have been arrested while heading to DR Congo to join P5, changed their statement at the High Court claiming they confessed under duress.

The group prayed court to critically examine their case.

Defence counsel Antoinette Mukamusoni challenged prosecution to explain why they only brought her clients to court yet their allegations indicate that the famous P5 is a coalition of some political parties, including some working inside the country.

However, prosecution denied claims of illegal detention and search at the suspects’ residences, asking court to uphold remand for the suspects as investigations are still ongoing.

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