KIGALI - Gasabo Intermediate Court, will today start hearing the appeal lodged by Former State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, challenging a one-year sentence handed to him by Kacyiru Primary Court.

Mutsindashyaka, also a former Governor of the Eastern Province, was convicted in a tender scam for the construction of provincial headquarters.

The court had ruled that Mutsindashyaka was party to breaching tendering procedures in the construction of the complex in 2007. The court also ordered him to pay Rwf 500, 000 in fines.

The accused’s lawyer, Beatrice Umubyeyi, could not be reached by press time for a comment ahead of the hearing.

Prosecution spokesperson Augustin Nkusi confirmed the hearing today and emphasized the state’s stand on the accused having failed to manage the multi-billion tender.

"We shall comment only after hearing the grounds for his appeal tomorrow (today),” Nkusi said

Others who have appealed to the Intermediate Court include Vincent Gatwabuyenge, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Gatwabuyenge was first convicted and sentenced by the Gasabo court to three years before Kacyiru Court slapped him with an additional four years in a separate case.

Ends