WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI — Two brothers who allegedly tried to bribe a Gacaca court official to secure the freedom of their father have been arrested by police in Kibuye.

The police last week identified the boys as Jean Damule Abazimana 46 and Jean Paul Habarurema 24. The two reportedly tried to give Twayigize Ennossa, the head of Gacaca court in Bissesero, Frw200,000 in order to acquit their father Mariko Makuza and another relative Ntampuhwe Epimach of genocide charges.

However, the deal aborted after the intended recipient alerted the police earlier and it arrested the culprits handing out the money.

Makuza and Ntampuhwe who are currently detained at Gitarama Central Prison are accused of massive killings in Bissessero during the 1994 Genocide in which about one million Rwandans died. Sources say that they would cross over from Gikongoro to participate in the Bissesero massacres.

According to sources, the duo had been sentenced to19 years in jail during the first trial of their case. But they appealed the verdict and the retrial is yet to start.

Sources say the two brothers had offered to give out a total of Frw 1 million in order to secure  the liberty of their father.

Speaking to reporters at Kibuye Police Post, the two admitted the crime and appealed to authorities to forgive them.

"I knew in the first place that it was wrong and I apologise for having bribed a Gacaca official,” said Abazimana.
"I will patiently wait for my sentence. My plan backfired because I was caught red handed in a crime,” said Habarurema, adding that his mind was preoccupied with how to get his father out of cells.

Twayigize said, "We shall keep reporting such cases because they undermine Gacaca courts. We have to remain impartial in our judgments.”

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