KARONGI – A Gacaca court official in Gitarama cell, Bwishyura sector in Karongi district, is under police custody after being caught red-handed receiving a bribe from a Genocide suspect.

Emmanuel Rizamera, the court’s secretary, was arrested early this week after a tip off by the victim who had allegedly been asked to part with Rwf200,000  to have  his case to be dropped.

Jean de Dieu Sibomana, who offered the bribe, had been cited in Genocide crimes in former Kibuye prefecture (now Karongi district).

Alphonsina Mukamazimpaka accuses Sibomana of being responsible for the death of an unidentified woman who was his neighbour during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

But Sibomana repeatedly denied the charges before the court, whose seceretary eventually solicited for the bribe in order to exonerate him.

Area residents also defended Sibomana, arguing that he never appeared anywhere on several occasions at the different roadblocks which were set to trap the victims.

Sources say Sibomana accepted to offer the bribe but later alerted the police who appeared in time to catch the suspect as money exchanged hands.

‘He was caught with some of the money that he had solicited because the victim tipped us and we caught him red-handed,’ Supt. Danny Ndayambaje, Karongi district police commander told The New Times.

Rizamera who has already been charged at Karongi Intermediate Court faces up to 5 years imprisonment if convicted.

Ends