KIGALI - Joseph Ntawangundi, an aide to presidential hopeful Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, leader of FDU-Inkingi, the yet to be registered political party, has been sent to jail to begin his prison sentence.

Ntawangundi was sentenced in absentia in 2007 to 19 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Police disclosed yesterday that the man was sent to Kimironko prison in Kigali City.

Ntawangundi was detained over the weekend following his getting into the limelight during a scuffle that authorities blame on Ingabire’s entourage which took place at Kinyinya Sector.  

According to police spokesman Eric Kayiranga, the police force was just executing a warrant of arrest issued by the Gacaca court.

"He is currently detained at Kimironko Prison, but you must understand that it is the Gacaca courts that have details of the case. For us we just implemented their arrest warrant,” Kayiranga told The New Times yesterday.

When reached on phone yesterday, Domitille Mukantaganzwa, the Executive Secretary of National Service of Gacaca Courts (SNJG), turned down requests for more details surrounding the case and instead disputed FDU’s rejection of the charges against Ntawangundi.

FDU has continuously criticized the arrest and alleges that Ntawangundi was not in the country during the Genocide.

"Those who say so are free to do so but the case will not be decided in the media! If they (FDU) think it is not true, let him appeal and it will be sorted out in the courts!” Mukantaganzwa said.

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