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Rwanda jails 11 over links to rebel group

Xinhua, March 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

A high court in northern Rwanda Thursday handed life jail terms to six people, including two females, after finding them guilty of collaborating with a Rwandan rebel group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (FDLR) and carrying out terror attacks in the country.

The Musanze High Court convicted five other suspects, giving them 10 years jail terms and acquitted three.

The 14 suspects were jointly accused of links to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and suspected of treason, illegal transport and possession of firearms, complicity in terrorist acts, murder and aggravated assaults.

Reading the verdicts, presiding judge Jean Pierre Kayisire said the six were given life jail terms after the court found them guilty of all charges.

The five who got lighter sentences admitted to the charges and sought for forgiveness, the judge said.

During the trial, prosecution submitted that one of the suspects, Jotham Nsengiyumva, masterminded the terrorist attacks after undergoing military training in FDLR camps in DR Congo in 2011.

Nsengiyumva was reportedly tasked with mobilizing new recruits for FDLR and coordinating terror attacks.

Jacuques Kizere, Tite Munyaziboneye, Fiacre Niyomugabo were acquitted after the court found them innocent.

They were arrested in 2013 and first appeared in court in March last year.

They were accused of three terror operations, one targeting the home of Musanze mayor Winifrida Mpembyemungu in which a child was killed and two other people injured.

Another terror attack claimed the life of police officer identified as Clement Mucyurabuhoro in 2013, while the third attack left several people injured when a grenade was hurled near the police college in Musanze town.

The ruling comes weeks after the High Court in Kigali handed 10 year jail term to Rwandan popular musician Kizito Mihigo who was accused of terrorism, treason and murder charges. Endi