Rusagara fate still unclear

It’s not yet clear whether Brigadier General Frank Rusagara will be charged in a military court or face other disciplinary actions.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

BY GODWIN AGABA

It’s not yet clear whether Brigadier General Frank Rusagara will be charged in a military court or face other disciplinary actions.
Military Spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara said yesterday that Military Prosecution has not yet come up with the exact charge against Rusagara who is under detention on allegations of sabotaging police efforts to arrest city tycoon Assinapol Rwigara.
"Prosecution hasn’t framed any charges against him (Rusagara) and will advise what to do next,” Rutaremera said on the phone.
Rutaremara confirmed that Rusagara was arrested by military prosecution on Wednesday on accusations of failing police to apprehend Rwigara at a funeral service at Apace SS in Kabusunzu.
Rwigara is wanted by police after his construction site in Kiyovu killed three workers in a landslide accident last month.
Sources said that after Rwigara’s narrow escape at Kabusunzu, Rusagara called the Police Deputy Commissioner General for Operations, Mary Gahonzire, wondering why police could storm a funeral service to arrest people.
But when contacted yesterday, Gahonzire denied having received such a call from Rusagara.
"Rusagara never called me and I never attended the funeral service,” Gahonzire said
Asked on the six policemen who had gone to arrest Rwigara but were reportedly deterred by Rusagara, Gahonzire said that their case is separate from the detained Brigadier General.
It is reported that Rusagara claimed that police should not have sought to arrest Rwigara at a time when he was attending a funeral service.
Upon arrival at the funeral service, the policemen reportedly produced a warrant of arrest and moved forward to capture the businessman but Rwigara allegedly pleaded for the general’s rescue.
Rusagara was among the mourners attending the funeral of the wife to Uziah Iyamuremye, the director of KK Security. Rusagara – commandant of Rwanda Military Academy and former Defence Secretary General and President Military Tribunal is under arrest at Kanombe barracks.