Former Rutsiro leaders arrested

KARONGI- The former Mayor of Rutsiro District, Jean Ndimubahire and the vice-Mayor in charge of social affairs, Odette Mukantabana, are in police custody. They were arrested on accusations of fabricating rape charges against a police officer. Gaspard Rwegeranya, the former District Police Intelligence Officer (IO) was accused of raping Mukantabana’s housemaid but was later acquitted after DNA results proved his innocence. Rwegeranya said that he was framed because he unearthed a corruption scandal involving top district officials including Ndimubahire. “It’s true they are under arrest. Our intelligence is investigating their role in the rape case against the police officer,” Police Spokesperson Theos Badege said yesterday. Meanwhile, Karongi Intermediate Court yesterday set June 10 as the judgment day in a case in which the former Mayor is accused of corruption. Yesterday, the presiding judge, Adolphe Udahemuka, convened the last hearing after prosecution reportedly unearthed more evidence against the accused. Ndimubahire turned up at the court amid tight security dismissing earlier speculation that he could be on the run. But Udahemuka ruled out rumours that Ndimubahire’s arrest could be connected to the ongoing graft case. “After hearing from both sides for the last time, we have set the ruling date but his arrest is not related to this case,” Udahemuka said. Ndimubahire has been under trial for allegedly conniving with another district official to swindle about Rwf3million in June 2007. His co-accused Jean Pierre Nsabimana, a former Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council at the district, is currently in detention. The duo is accused of embezzlement and using forged documents to justify non-existent expenditures. In previous hearings, Nsabimana insisted that his involvement in the alleged crimes was under the Mayor’s influence, a claim Ndimubahire vehemently denies. The money in question, was provided by the Public Health Programme, a Swiss project operating in both Rutsiro and Karongi districts, and was meant to facilitate a two-day youth seminar. It is alleged that Ndimubahire used his position as Mayor and coordinator of the National Youth Council in the district to pile pressure on Nsabimana to mismanage the funds. Ends