KARONGI- The former Mayor of Rutsiro District, Jean Ndimubahire and the vice-Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Odette Mukantabana, have been acquitted of fabricating rape charges against a police officer.

Gaspard Rwegeranya, the former District Police Intelligence Officer (IO) was accused of raping Mukantabana's housemaid but was later found not guilty following DNA tests.

It was alleged that Rwegeranya was framed because he unearthed a corruption scandal involving Ndimubahire.

Presiding judge Diogene Rugira exonerated the duo after prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the two embattled former leaders were behind the allegation.

However, Ndimubahire remains in jail serving a one year jail sentence over corruption charges.

He was found guilty of conniving with another district official identified as Jean Pierre Nsabimana to swindle about Rwf3million in June 2007 and using forged documents to justify non-existent expenditures.

The money in question, was provided by the Public Health Programme, a Swiss project operating in both Rutsiro and Karongi districts to facilitate a two-day youth seminar.

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