KANOMBE - Former spy chief Patrick Karegeya yesterday walked out of the coolers after completing his 18-month sentence. Karegeya, who was also stripped of his military Colonel rank on July 13, 2006 by the Military Tribunal, has been serving time for desertion and insubordination.

"He has been released from prison having completed his sentence as the law stipulates,” Military Spokesman, Maj. Jill Rutaremara, said of his predecessor.

Karegeya, 46, whose last portfolio in Rwanda Defence Forces was military spokesman, was arrested in May, 2006 on the orders of the Chief of General Staff General James Kabarebe.

Prosecution accused him of defying General Kabarebe’s instructions to report to office after he had been released from an earlier six-month detention on disciplinary grounds.

Karegeya has been detained at a new senior military officers’ detention facility in Kanombe Military Headquarters, where he was transferred to Mulindi Military Prison in Kigali.

Upon his release, according to reliable sources, Karegeya met with General Kabarebe. However details of their meeting were not available by press time.

The now former colonel became the second senior Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) officer to be stripped of his rank after Colonel Fred Nyamurangwa – now a Pentecostal pastor and commissioner in the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission – who lost his pips around1999 for allegedly confiscating civilians’ property.

Several other military junior officers, including a captain, have also previously been stripped of their ranks on various charges.

Karegeya’s wife Leah confirmed her husband’s release.
"He came out. But he’s busy with visitors right now,” Leah, who did not sound excited said.

It was not clear whether Karegeya obtained his release certificate from the Military Prosecution immediately.

However he can choose to pick the document anytime upon paying about Frw30, 000 for court expenses.

As a former convict, Karegeya may not legally join certain key leadership positions until his rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation of a former military convict is sanctioned by the Military High Court upon request by that person and consent of the prosecution.

But, legal experts say, such a decision can only take place after about five years from the time of completion of sentence.

"In such a case it must be put in records that so and so sentenced to and served this amount of time in prison but was there after rehabilitated,” a law specialist, who requested not to be mentioned, said yesterday.

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