KIGALI - The minister of Internal Security, Fazil Musa Harelimana, has said that what his escort did was not anywhere connected to his (escort’s) job description.

He was speaking to The New Times yesterday in reaction to allegations that ever since his escort, Sergeant Innocent Gatete shot and killed the minister’s neighbour, Lt. François d’Assise Munyemana the minister had never shown adequate concern.

People close to Munyemana’s family had expressed their surprise that the minister had neither paid a call to the bereaved family nor had he attended the funeral.

Harerimana said that he would get time to pay appropriate respects to the bereaved, adding that what happened and his expected response were far removed from his office as minister of Internal Security.

"These are family to family matters. If I have to render my support or condolences, I don’t do it as a minister; I do it as Fazil,” he said on his cell phone.

"Visiting any family that has lost their loved one or going for burial depends with the time one has and it has no time limit. There is nowhere it is said that you don’t exceed five days. Any time you can, you visit them,” Harerimana added.

He also said that the Police and the prosecution are doing their best to ensure that justice prevails.

According to a source who preferred anonymity, the trial of Sgt. Innocent Gatete, is scheduled for October 10, 2008.

The source added that according to penal procedure article 33 and 119, the suspect must appear in court before 15 days elapse.

"Because the suspect was arrested red-handed, the penal procedure rules that he/she should be tried within 15 days,” the minister said.

Last week, police arrested Sergeant Innocent Gatete for shooting dead 34-year-old Lt. Munyemana near the Internal Security minister’s residence in Gasharu, Kicukiro.

The deceased was laid to rest at Kanombe military cemetery on September 28 and is survived by wife, Grace Kabanyana and two young children.

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