Chief justice calls for joint efforts to curb corruption

All players should stand up against corruption in the judiciary and in other institutions, if the country is to develop at a faster pace and all citizens get quality justice. Chief Justice Prof. Sam Rugege made the call on Friday while closing the ‘anti-corruption week’ in the judiciary in Nyagatare District. Rugege said that while the country has made strides in fighting corruption and is ranked among the countries with least corruption incidence on the continent and world over, there is need to avoid and completely uproot the vice if the country is to develop faster as it aspires. “For corruption to be uprooted for good in the judiciary and in other institutions, you are the ones to take the lead by detesting offering it and committing to share information of where it is,” Rugege told Nyagatare residents. He said that corruption undermines development, national security, and economy. “We call corruption an epidemic because it undermines a lot, including security, economy...the money that is offered as bribe or gets embezzled should be used in citizen development as in improving infrastructure such as health facilities, schools, markets and roads, among others, ” he said. He also challenged judges and other officers of court to fight corruption with all means at their disposal. “Don’t let anyone lead you to any temptations that may cause you to lose your dignity and the trust the public has in you,” he said. Rugege said that more efforts have been put in place to fight corruption and that some culprits have continously been apprehended and punished. He said that in 2017-18, a total of 561 cases related to corruption were taken to courts of which 265 cases resulted into convictions. Meanwhile, 95 of these cases ended up being acquittals while 192 appealed against the rulings. Of these, prosecution has appealed against two. He said that during the anti-corruption week, a total of 109 cases recorded in the judicial year were scheduled to be heard. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Chief justice calls for joint efforts to curb corruption