Lt Mutabazi Lawyer Quits Over Suspect’s Contraditions
There was drama at the Rwanda Military High Court in Kanombe, Kigali on Wednesday as the terrorism trial of Lt Joel Mutabazi and his co-accused entered day two.
Mutabazi’s lawyer, Antoinette Mukamusoni, threw in the towel, saying she had no “business defending a suspect who keeps changing positions.”
Mukamusoni said Mutabazi was “full of surprises” and that he would have to look for another representative in court.
“We had agreed that the suspect should not to plead guilty but later he changed this position. Now, he has decided to keep quiet,” charged Mukamusoni.
Earlier, Mutabazi gave contradictory statements, at one point even denying having deserted the RDF.
Yet, he had told the same court how he escaped from Rwanda army to live in Uganda.
A visibly unshaken Mutabazi responded to his lawyer: “God bless you.”
Earlier, Mutabazi’s sister in law, Diane Gasengayire, implicated two of her blood sisters in forming a terror network.
She also confessed that she obtained two bullets from a security person attached to KK Security firm which were later delivered to Mutabazi in Uganda.
It is these two bullets used by Mutabazi to shoot at the door of his residence in Kampala before calling in police, claiming an attack by Rwandan agents.
The Military Court today decided to visit the scene where the Mutabazi’s gun was buried for two years.
Refugee status
It should be recalled that after fleeing to Uganda in 2011, Mutabazi asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kampala to provide him protection as a refugee fleeing persecution and harassment in Rwanda.
As is the custom, UNCHR Refugee Department took long to investigate Mutabazi’s case.
It is at this time that Mutabazi hatched a plan to secure quick protection and refugee status from the Uganda government and UNCHR.
Mutabazi would later send his brother Jackson Karemera to Rwanda to pick the gun he had hidden in Rwamagana.
Karemera told a fully-packed court that after inspecting the gun, Mutabazi discovered the magazine had rusted.
“The bullets couldn’t work due to long stay in disuse and lack of oiling,” said Karemera in a confession that left court dumbfounded.
This confession was corroborated by Gasengayire who confirmed providing bullets to Mutabazi.
The pistol used in the stage-managed shooting was later dropped in a pit latrine, according to Karemera.
Mutabazi and others are being charged jointly and separately with terrorism, murder, conspiracy to murder, formation of an armed group, spreading rumours with intention to incite the public against the State, illegal possession of fire arms, forgery and desertion.
Among the suspects charged include two members of FDLR 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.
According to Defence and Military spokesperson, Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita, “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.”
Source chimpreports
Birababaze kureba ukuntu Kagame na gakikoke ukuntu badodera abandi amadosiye babaziza kutavugarumwe. Arikose Kagame, nta ntubyo ushobora kugirira Mutabazi impuwe? Umuntu wakurize amanwa na mazoro? Sha uwakuroze ntiyakarabye. Ntakindi nongeraho gusa ndumiwe.
Kagame and your co; it is a matter of time before real law catches up with you killers. Nakaramba…
This not Justice, but “clown training” at the service of the Rwandan dictator and his shamefull business!
these are kangaroo courts charging and judging kangaroo cases against innocent and poor people in the interest of some power greediness and hungriness”
i appreciate this Military justice and how they are dealing with this issues of punishing this unstable soldier. MUTABAZI must face what he deserves which is equal to what he planned. not in Rwanda but also else where, to betray a president is sanctioned by a heavy rules.
Mukamusoni, umenye ko Mutabazi ari umusirikare wibabariye wanyuze mupfu nyinshi, Ndagusabye wikomeza kumusonga. Ntawuyobewe ko kumubera avocate kandi umucinyuma aruburyo bwo gicinya inkoro, ntawe bishimisha, Gupfa nirimwe , kandi ntawutazapfa. Kwemeza ibyaha Mutabazi sikogucyemura icyibazo cyiraho. nabandi bitarageraho ejo nimwe. Musubize amaso inyuma. Ese abantu batagiye urugamba , bagiye hehe? Nabacyiriho bamerewe bate? Ese bose babaye ibigwari , ibigarasha cyangwa ibigoryi aruko urugamba ruragiye? Kagame niwe wabaye intwari kurugamba wanyine?
You so called Arnaud;
You can dance, have a bottle of champagne to celebrate of what MUTABAZI is going through. but remember today is him tomorrow is you or one of your relatives. If you have a heart , brain and eyes you should watch and shut your mouth. Bagosora and relatives never knew the world will change for them. Bakiga and strong hutu leaders never knew they would die and be all over searching for refuge as they once sang similar song you are singing now and they had milk and honey on their table. Ayou uvuga urayavugishwa n\’uburozi bwa kagame bukigutunze, amata yo anyobwa n\’abagabo b\’imitima iyanyu yamaze kujya mukibuno mwo gashira mwe.