Terror trial begins today at Military High Court

The trial of sixteen people suspected to be part of a terror network and their accomplices  begins today on Tuesday, 28 January at the Military High Court in Kanombe, Kigali.

Suspects to stand trial include Lt Joel Mutabazi and Innocent Kalisa (a Demobilised Private), both formerly members of Rwanda Defence Forces serving in the Republican Guard and their co-accused.

The Group will be charged jointly and separately with terrorism, murder, conspiracy to murder,formation of an armed group, spreading rumors with intention to incite the public against the State, illegal possession of fire arms, forgery and desertion.

Among the suspects to be charged include two members of FDLR (a genocidal militia made up of Ex-FAR and interahamwe) closely linked with Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and eight former National University of Rwanda students recruited by RNC and suspected to be part of a terror cell of the FDLR.

Defence and Military spokesperson Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita said: “Investigations as well as corroborated confessions from the suspects has revealed important evidence of an organised network of individuals in Rwanda and beyond, responsible for grenade attacks in Kigali last year and plans to carry out further acts of terror. The suspects will be brought to the court of law to answer to these specific charges on crimes committed.”

The trial will be open to the public and media.

UM– USEKE.RW