Former state minister in charge of culture Edouard Bamporiki’s appeal hearing got underway on Monday at the High Court. Bamporiki is challenging a sentence and a fine handed to him by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court in October.

Nyarugenge Intermediate Court handed him a four-year jail sentence and a fine of Rwf60 million on September 30.

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The court convicted him of two counts of fraudulent acquisition of another person's property and abusing the authority given to him by the law.

Previously, the prosecution had sought a 20-year sentence and a fine of Rwf200m but Bamporiki's lawyer, Jean-Baptiste Habyarimana had asked for a suspended sentence on grounds that his client had pleaded guilty and had been cooperative throughout the trial.

However, in delivering the verdict, the bench of three judge-bench had ruled that Bamporiki "doesn't deserve a suspended sentence. It would not teach any lesson for the public if someone of his status as a state minister of culture and someone who championed values are not punished.”

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During the substance trial hearing that took place on September 21, the prosecution told the court how Bamporiki solicited a bribe from businessman Norbert Gatera, promising to help him have the City of Kigali reopen his factory, which had been closed for not meeting the requisite requirements.

The prosecution had pointed out that Bamporiki’s position made it easy for him to convince people below him in terms of hierarchy to act as he wished, which amounts to misuse of public office.

Court heard how Bamporiki reportedly kept Gatera under pressure to deliver the money, Rwf5m and another Rwf10m, which the businessman had previously given a high-ranking official in government.

Despite paying up, Gatera is said to have felt cheated and coerced into paying huge amounts of money, which prompted him to report the case.

The court was told that on April 20, Gatera filed a case with Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), stating that he was being threatened by Bamporiki, that his factory will be closed for good if he doesn’t pay the required amount.

The prosecution presented to the court proof that Bamporiki received another Rwf10m from Gatera to help him secure the release of his wife, who was arrested in connection with the factory which was built illegally. The duo stayed in touch with Bamporiki reportedly asking for more offers.

However, Bamporiki said that he showed goodwill to advocate for her release but not for a fee, a point which was reiterated by his lawyers who said that when someone is ‘thanked’ for a good gesture, it does not constitute a crime.