They are accused of offences linked to the alleged illegal purchase of airline tickets using a Ministry of Defence account.
The case relates to APR FC’s trip to Egypt in September 2024 to play Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League, a visit that included members of the press among the travelling party.
Those appearing before the court include RCS spokesperson CSP Hillary Sengabo, CSP Olive Mukantabana, and three RDF officers, among them Captain Peninah Mutoni and Captain Peninah Umurungi.
Civilian defendants include journalist Ndayishimiye Reagan, known as Rugaju, Ishimwe Ricard, and former journalist Mucyo Antha Biganiro.
Military prosecutors accuse the group of complicity in receiving and issuing unauthorised documents, as well as complicity in the misuse of public funds for purposes other than those intended.
The lawyer representing Capt Mutoni stated that their client was not ready to stand trial because they received the prosecution’s case at 8 p.m., and the lawyer only saw it in the morning on August 13.
Additionally, Capt Mutoni’s lawyer explained that she is pregnant and does not have the strength to proceed, especially since she was scheduled to visit the doctor that day.
The prosecution countered, arguing that despite Capt Mutoni’s condition, the 27 other co-defendants should continue with their trial. They requested that Capt Mutoni be granted a new trial date.
Capt Mutoni’s lawyer further argued that because all the defendants are charged in the same case, her client’s trial should not be separated from the others.
The lawyer also mentioned that Capt Mutoni is dealing with serious health issues, having recently fainted due to low blood pressure while in detention.
Lawyer Ibambe Jean Paul, representing one of the accused, Nemeye Olivier, argued that the trial should proceed despite Capt Mutoni’s objection. He stated that if she is not ready to stand trial, the other defendants were prepared to proceed.
The lawyer clarified that his client also has a wedding on August 16 but did not request a delay for the trial. He also asked for his client to be allowed to attend the trial while not in detention.
After reviewing the situation, the court accepted the objection based on Capt Mutoni’s pregnancy and ordered that she be taken to the hospital. Her trial has been rescheduled for August 18, while the trial for the other 27 defendants will continue.
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The prosecution explained that they accuse CSP Sengabo, CSP Mukantabana, and Capt Umurungi of being accomplices in the crime of providing unauthorized documents and misusing public funds.
The prosecution added that the other defendants face charges of aiding and abetting in receiving unauthorized documents, misusing public funds, and using forged documents.
The prosecution requested that the trial be held in camera to avoid public statements that could compromise national security and ethics.
“The crimes they are accused of are connected to the Ministry of Defence, and it is impossible to separate the Ministry of Defence from national security,” the prosecution stated.
The defense lawyers requested that the trial be held in public, but if necessary, the military-related charges should be heard in camera.
They argued that closing the trial was unnecessary since it does not threaten national security but pertains to national assets, which concerns the people of Rwanda.
The court ruled that the trial will be held in camera due to its connection with national security. All non-participants were asked to leave before the further proceedings.
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