The judiciary has sacked 12 of its employees over serious misconduct, including corruption and desertion, The New Times has established.

Five workers who include two Presidents of Primary courts, two registrars and a judge, were sacked on grounds of soliciting bribes and swindling government funds.

Judicial Spokesperson, Charles Kaliwabo, confirmed the development in a telephone interview.

"They were irrevocably dismissed by the judicial high council which was chaired by the Chief Justice [Aloysie Cyanzayire] after analysing their files,” Kaliwabo said.

Among those dismissed is the Registrar of Rushashi Primary Court, Modeste Barakengera. Kaliwabo said he was suspended for doctoring a case file.

"He (Barakengera) forged a case file,” he added, without giving the details on the file case in question.

Also fired were Elias Nsengimana and Janvier Muhire of Mugombwa and Kagarama primary courts respectively.

Kaliwabo explained that seven others, who include five registrars of the Intermediate Court and one of the High Court of Kigali, were dismissed by the council for desertion.

"They had applied for leave-of-absence, but they left before the council decided on their requests as prescribed by the law. The council, therefore, decided to null their applications and dismissed them from the judiciary,” he said.

Kaliwabo also disclosed that the contracts of three other contractual judges, one attached to Nyarugunga primary court and two others of Nyarugenge Primary court, were revoked on corruption grounds.

"We have networks of establishing such corrupt officials. The judiciary does not tolerate any sort of misconduct. Corruption is at zero tolerance and anyone implicated in this act will be pursued accordingly,” he noted.

Most of the sacked lawyers, Kaliwabo explained were reported by the public following the February-Week of fighting corruption in the judicial sector.

"The public should know that they are not supposed to buy their rights. We need their cooperation, especially in fighting corruption,” he stated, adding that the judiciary established a hotline (3670) for the public to report any form of corruption.

He, however, added that some members of public were also arrested trying to bribe judges. This month alone, he said, two people were arrested in Musanze and Karongi districts for trying to bribe judges.

Ends