Court registrars held over graft, forgery

Two court registrars from Gasabo and Nyarugenge intermediate courts have been arrested over alleged corruption and forgery.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Two court registrars from Gasabo and Nyarugenge intermediate courts have been arrested over alleged corruption and forgery.A Court Registrar from the Gasabo Intermediate Court, Anastase Ndahimana, was detained after allegedly taking a Rwf 50,000 bribe from a litigant to facilitate a case.In a separate incident, another registrar attached to the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, Cleophas Twagirayezu, was apprehended over alleged forgery. Judiciary Spokesperson, Charles Kaliwabo, said Twagirayezu provided fake evidence to set a guilty party free yet they faced imminent imprisonment.He said that graft still subsists within the judiciary despite efforts to fight the vice."This is going to compel us to intensify our efforts in fighting corruption and forgery within our bodies and the rest of the country. We are carrying out investigations and taking action against those arrested,” he said.Kaliwabo, however, insisted that the judiciary had so far registered only a few such cases, adding that even the few would not be tolerated.In June, this year, the judiciary sacked 12 of its employees over corruption and absconding from duty.Five employees, including two presidents of Primary courts, two registrars and a judge, were sacked for soliciting bribes and swindling government funds.By February this year, there were 66 corruption cases registered in courts, according to the Chief Justice, Sam Rugege, when he addressed the anti-corruption week early this year.Forty-three out of 83 corruption cases were cleared during a similar event last year.During the campaign, eight judicial employees, including six judges, were also suspended. Fourteen people were arrested between 2009 and 2011 for attempting to bribe judges.