Mutabazi pleads not guilty to terror charges

Terror suspect Joel Mutabazi has pleaded not guilty to all charges levelled against him.Lt. Mutabazi, a former Rwanda Defence Forces officer, was yesterday appearing before the Military Tribunal in Nyamirambo, Kigali, for the pre-trial hearing alongside 17 others.The hearing was also attended by UK High Commissioner to Rwanda Benedict Llewellyn-Jones, US Defence attaché and several other officials from diplomatic missions and NGOs operating in the country.Presiding judge Charles Sumanyi read to the accused the charges before asking him to enter a plea.Lt. Mutabazi is accused of multiple charges, including deserting the army, forgery, terrorism, illegal possession of fire arms, formation of an armed group, murder, conspiracy to murder and spreading rumors with the intention to incite the public to rise up against the State.Responding to the judge, Lt. Mutabazi, who appeared calm and composed, said: “I plead not guilty to all the charges.” He is represented by Antoinette Mukamusoni.Among the co-accused is demobilised soldier, Private Innocent Kalisa, who faces three charges but pleaded guilty on one count–of spreading rumours with an intention to incite the public to rise up against the State.Kalisa pleaded not guilty to the charge of formation of an armed group and contempt against the Head of State.Five defence lawyers were present in court to represent a client each, while 13 of the accused opted to defend themselves.When Judge Sumanyi asked the three-member prosecution team led by Maj. Pacifique Kabanda to present their case, they pleaded the court hears the case in camera since it contains details that would jeopardise national security if released to the public.The judge ordered a recess to allow his team to deliberate on the application. On resumption of the proceedings, about 20 minutes later, he ruled in favour of holding the trial in camera. Lt. Mutabazi deserted the army and fled to Uganda in October 2011, where he is alleged to have operated a terror cell responsible for a spate of grenade attacks in Kigali. He was handed over Rwanda Police in October.

National

Mutabazi pleads not guilty to terror charges