Prosecution yesterday requested Musanze High Court to hand a life sentence to each of the 14 suspects accused of treason and murder, among other charges. In his final submissions to the court, the prosecutor, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, accused all the suspects of belonging to a terror group, Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and aiding and abetting terror operations that claimed lives. Nsengiyumva accused the suspects of murder, aggravated assault and battery, treason, conspiracy against the established government, terrorism and illegal possession of fire arms. “We request that all suspects to be sentenced to life in jail as they all played a role in the operations,” said Prosecutor Nsengiyumva. At the public hearing at Musanze Stadium, prosecution maintained that although all suspects weren’t together at the time of committing the crime, they were all linked to and worked for FDLR. Earlier, prosecution had brought more evidence to court against Jotham Nsengiyumva who is alleged to be the gang leader. During the Thursday’s hearing, Nsengiyumva, accused the Musanze governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, of financing some terror operations but Bosenibamwe has since denied the allegations. One of the terror operations targeted the home of Musanze mayor Winifrida Mpembyemungu, where a one-and-a-half-year-old girl was killed and two others injured. Another operation claimed the life IP Clement Mucyurabuhoro, a policeman who was shot dead in December, last year. During yesterday’s hearing, Mpembyemungu asked for Rwf31 million in damages while the policeman’s family asked for Rwf100 million The court is due to deliver its verdict on February 12.
