International crimes Court charges FDU-Inkingi members with terrorism, acquits others

The High Court of International Crimes Division located in Nyanza district condemned some members of the non-approved party in Rwanda, FDU-Inkingi and acquitted others.

It was 20 minutes past 10 am when the judges walked into the special chambers where internal and cross border crimes can be tried. This was the end of the trial for 11 FDU- Inkingi members a party that’s not allowed in the country. They all faced charges related to conspiracy against established power and the crime of forming an illegal armed force, only 8 of the 11 appeared in court. 

Regarding the crime of conspiracy against the established power, the prosecution relied on the evidence collected from telephone calls that the accused made using the social network WhatsApp and stated that some are guilty of the crime of treason. And concerning the crime of forming an illegal armed force, the Court said that they had evidence that they incited young people to join rebel armed groups operating mainly in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo such as the FDLR and others and finding the money for travel, for obtaining passports, for food and others.

Furthermore, the FDU-Inkingi party collaborated closely with other groups such as the FDLR, the RNC, Amahoro PC, the PS Imberakuri and the PDP-Imanzi, all members of P5, this constituting another proof to which the Court relied on it to render the judgment.

The judges at the High Court sentenced Twagirayezu Fabien to 12 years' imprisonment. The National Prosecution Service considers him responsible for recruiting combatants. Nsabiyaremye Gratien was also sentenced to 12 years in prison and the two are guilty of treason the crime of training an illegal armed force.

The Court sentenced Twagirimana Boniface and Mbarushimana Evode to 10 years in prison. Ndayishimiye Papias and Ufitamahoro Norbert were sentenced to 7 years in prison after being found guilty of joining an illegal armed force.

The court also acquitted Kanyarukiko for having already served his sentence in prison. Nkiko Ernest, Abayisenga Venant, Ntirutwa Theophile and Gasengayire Leonille, treasurer of the FDU-Inkingi party were also acquitted.  Convicts have 30 days to appeal.