The Gasabo Intermediate Court in Kigali on May 31 sentenced businessman Jean Nsabimana, commonly known as ‘Dubai’ to two years in prison and fined him Rwf1.5 million for forgery and fraud in what appears to be the end of a case that has been on for nearly a year.
One of his co-defendants, engineer Theopiste Nkulikiyimfura, was also convicted of forgery and slapped with Rwf3 million fine.
Former Gasabo officials acquitted
But the court cleared his other co-accused, former Gasabo district officials: Stephen Rwamurangwa, Chretien Raymond Mberabahizi, and Jeanne d’Arc Nyirabihogo, of complicity in fraud.
Previously, the prosecution sought a seven-year jail term for Dubai and three years for the former Gasabo district officials.
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The defendants faced charges related to the Urukumbuzi real estate project, commonly known as Kwa Dubai. Located in Kinyinya, a suburb of Kigali, the estate’s issues got public attention in March 2023 when a wall on one of the compounds collapsed.
During a hearing last December, the prosecution pushed for convictions on all counts and recommended appropriate sentences and fines: Nsabimana, seven years in jail and a fine of Rwf3 million; former Gasabo district officials, three years' imprisonment and a fine of Rwf5 million; and Nkulikiyimfura, seven years in jail and a fine of Rwf3 million for forgery.
All the suspects pleaded not guilty and requested acquittal. Nsabimana's lawyer additionally sought a suspended sentence if acquittal is not granted.
In April 2023, Nsabimana and his co-defendants were apprehended after concerns were raised by property owners due to the construction of substandard housing units in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District.
In July of the same year, bail was granted to four suspects while Nsabimana remained in custody as per the lower court's ruling. Prosecutors alleged that in 2013, Nsabimana entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gasabo District to construct 300 affordable houses in the Kinyinya area of Kigali.
By 2017, 120 houses had been built and offered for sale at prices ranging from Rwf15 million to Rwf45 million.
However, a 2015 report from Rwanda House Authority (RHA) raised concerns about the houses’ substandard quality.
Despite instructions to address identified issues within a month, no action was taken. Subsequent inspections in 2017 revealed persistent shortcomings. House buyers encountered numerous problems, including leaking roofs, cracking walls, poor plumbing, unsafe electrical installations, and inadequate sewerage systems.