A president of Kimisanje Gacaca Court, Kigarama Sector in Kicukiro District has been detained for allegedly demanding a bribe from a Genocide convict’s family.Jules Ndamaje was recently caught red- handed, after being given a bribe of Frw100, 000 from Martha Mukashema and M. José Mukampazimpaka, a wife and relative respectively, of one Rujengandekwe to help him get released. Mukashema and Mukampazimpaka, according to John Ndayambaje, the Gikondo Police station head of investigations, the Frw100, 000 was part of Frw300, 000 bribe Rujengandekwe’s family had promised Ndamaje to help release Rujengandekwe.Mid this year, Kimisanje Gacaca Lower Court sentenced Rujengandekwe to 19 years imprisonment after it found him guilty of participating in the 1994 Genocide.Rujengandekwe is being detained at Kigali Central Prison (1930) as he waits the court of appeal’s decision on his case. Mukashema and Mukampazimpaka were allegedly giving a bribe to have the appeal court reverse the earlier ruling by the Lower Court.Ndayambaje confirmed the incident yesterday and said Rujengandekwe was arrested by police at Kigarama Sector offices. “Ndamaje was caught immediately after getting the money from those women. We had been tipped that he had asked for the money from Rujengandekwe’s family,” he said. He added: “We had been told when and where the act was to take place by Rujengandekwe’s family which claimed that their person was innocent being the reason they were asked a bribe.” Ndayambaje also said that Ndamaje first denied the act saying they were paying his debt.But suspicion was high because a day after, Rujengandekwe was to appear before the Court of Appeal in Kigarama Sector in Kigali.The police investigator also said that the police had earlier been told that there are people who are asked to bribe for release of their relatives. It is a common thing and it works out for many because it is hard to get them. Ends
