Ingabire to begin her defense next week

KIGALI - Victoire Ingabire will, next week, begin her defense in the High Court, to answer six counts leveled against her The charges are, forming an armed group with the aim of destabilising the country, complicity to acts of terrorism, Conspiracy against the government by use of war and terrorism, inciting the masses to revolt against the government, genocide ideology and provoking divisionism.

Friday, September 23, 2011

KIGALI - Victoire Ingabire will, next week, begin her defense in the High Court, to answer six counts leveled against her

The charges are, forming an armed group with the aim of destabilising the country, complicity to acts of terrorism, Conspiracy against the government by use of war and terrorism, inciting the masses to revolt against the government, genocide ideology and provoking divisionism.

 Ingabire’s counsel is composed of Ian Edwards, a British lawyer and Gatera Gashabana.

Last week, court heard from Ingabire’s four co-accused, who all pleaded guilty and incriminated her.

The four former members of the FDLR militia, acknowledged having formed an armed group with the influence of Ingabire.They alleged to have received money from the FDU-Inkingi leader to buy arms to be used for terrorist activities.

During his defense hearing, one of the co-accused, Maj. Vital Uwumuremyi, yesterday,  presented to court e-mails that he allegedly exchanged with Ingabire between 2007 up to when she returned to Rwanda early last year.

He explained every e-mail exchange, explaining to the judges what the contents of the mails meant as most of them were in coded language.

Uwumuremyi also explained the various Western Union money transfer forms and gave the details of how he used the money that was sent to him.

Being a political commissar of his battalion, Uwumuremyi was instrumental in persuading his commander, Lt. Colonel Tharcisse Nditurende, to form Coalition des Forces Democratique΄(CDF) which was a breakaway faction of  FDLR rebel outfit.

This trial has been going on for three weeks.

Ends