The Huye Intermediate Court has sent John Habimana Kayijuka, the Nyanza District executive secretary, on remand for 30 days for his alleged connivance in the embezzlement of Rwf58 million. The suspect was arrested on November 2 following a dossier compiled by the Police. Kayijuka, who was formally charged last week, is being detained at Huye Prison. He denies the charges and had asked for bail, arguing that he could not escape because he is a public official. But during the hearing of Habimana’s bail application, on Thursday, prosecution led by Michele Nshimiyimana prayed for his remand, saying he might elude justice or interfere with investigations. Prosecution alleges that the director of administration and finance, Jean Damascène Nsabihoraho – who is still on the run – is the prime suspect in the case. It says Nsabihoraho embezzled funds twice, but on the third time, he wrote a payment order in his name and account and the executive secretary authorised payment. The court, presided over by Innocent Musabwa, concurred with prosecution that the suspect would interfere with investigations once given bail. Authorising withdrawal Kayijuka admits signing a payment order of Rwf24.4 million on May 12, but claims he was not aware that Nsabihoraho intended to take the money. The court said the fact that Kayijuka signed the payment order written in ones’ personal names potentially implicates him in the case as an accomplice. Kayijuka’s lawyer Samuel Mbarubukeye had requested bail arguing that the fact that his client signed the payment order does not implicate him as he was doing his duty as executive secretary. Kayijuka argues that he checked only one part of the payment order that he had to sign, without checking the other part of the document which bore the name and account of the beneficiary because he did not suspect foul play. The embezzlement was allegedly committed in May.
