After chasing his lost property for over three years, Théodore Rugemanandekwe, could finally had a breakthrough with the case now in the courts of law.

He accuses his former landlord Moise Mutabaruka of locking up his house in May 2005, after which the former lost his valuable property that was in the house.

Rugemanandekwe, a Genocide survivor, alleges that Mutabaruka threw him out of the house after he had testified against the latter’s cousin Manasseh Nyirindekwe in a Gacaca court at Muhima, a Kigali city suburb.

The house is also located in Muhima. "After he found out that I had testified against his brother, he immediately locked the house.

He told me that he cannot tolerate accommodating a person who had testified against his brother,” Rugemanandekwe claimed.

He said the house was locked in his absence, only to return from work and found that the maid was outside.

"I improvised and got where to spend to sleep.”  An agreement to compensate the property was reached but futile.

Rugemanandekwe claims that Mutabaruka accepted to pay Frw2, 650,000 in compensation by cheque, which he was given.

However, the cheque was allegedly confiscated by a policeman, Antoine Karemera who was by then working in Muhima police station. Karemera called Rugemanandekwe and withdrew the cheque from him.

A photocopy of a letter from Karemera, which The New Times has seen, requested Rugemanandekwe to show-up with the cheque.

After years of frustration, Rugemandekwe petitioned the Prosecutor General’s office last month.

The move paid off as his case was put on scheduled for hearing in Muhima Court on September 4.

It was postponed to October 16 after Mutabaruka asked court to grant him more time to update his lawyer on the case.

Karemera, now working at Gisozi Police Station admits that he took the cheque from Rugemanandekwe and says he made the necessary reports for the case. He however explains that he was acting on orders of his boss, Colonelle Muligo.

He said after an understanding between Rugemanandekwe and Mutabaruka at Muhima Police Station, the former was given the cheque.

When contacted, Mutabaruka refused to discuss the issue.

He said: "I cannot say anything, let Theodore (Rugemanandekwe) tell you everything because he knows everything and has time for that, but me, I have not time.”

Ends