KIGALI - Embattled former State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, allegedly concealed his foreign bank accounts from the Ombudsman.
According to Prosecution, Mutsindashyaka who is also the former Eastern Province Governor, also owns several questionable prime plots of land.

The Ombudsman findings also indicate that he owns four trailer trucks which he never declared.

His personal foreign bank accounts are in Belgium, Canada and United States. Alphonse Hitiyaremye, the Deputy Prosecutor General was tight-lipped when asked how much was found on his foreign accounts.

"We cannot go into details at this stage. Investigations are still going on,” Hitiyaremye told The NewTimes at his Kimihurura offices yesterday.

He added that Mutsindashyaka under-declared his wealth and as a leader, he knew this contravenes the leadership code.

"Even what Mutsindashyaka declared is far beyond his means,” revealed Hitiyaremye, adding, "We have got useful information against him”.

According to the prosecution, Mutsindashyaka faces four charges which include under-declaration of wealth, forgery, abuse of public funds and accumulating wealth beyond his earnings.

While still Kigali City Mayor, Mutsindashyaka reportedly paid an undisclosed amount of money to GEOMAP but investigations indicate the money was never remitted. He is likely to be arraigned before court on Friday. 

Hitiyaremye also clarified that his arrest had nothing to do with his ongoing case in the Kacyiru Court.

He is in court to explain his alleged role in the alleged tender scam in the Eastern Province and prosecution wants court to hand him a one-year sentence.

Jeanne Mwisaneza, the Director of the Wealth Declarations Unit in the Office of the Ombudsman, said the matter was beyond her.

Asked what Mutsidashyaka’s total fortune amounts to, the Ombudsman, Tito Rutaremara sounded more guarded.

"We cannot tell this the media. We only send the information to the prosecution or Chief Justice,” Rutaremara explained on phone yesterday.

He added: "Please please. Find out from the Office of Prosecutor General because the law does not allow us to reveal this information.”

Mutsindashyaka’s arrest also comes months after the arrest of a former Director of Finance in the President’s Office, Janvier Murenzi.

According to prosecution, Murenzi had in the period of four years as a civil servant, accumulated over Rwf5 00million, money considered beyond his earnings.

All government employees are required by the 2006 Wealth Declaration Law to submit their annual declaration of income, assets and liabilities for verification by June 30.

The idea behind the declarations is that officials who accumulate wealth beyond their means should be investigated and prosecuted.

The Leadership Code Act aims at strengthening the fight against corruption through increased accountability and transparency by top leaders in government.

Ends