Lt. Mutabazi’s terror case resumes today

The trial of Lt. Joel Mutabazi, who is accused of treason and terrorism along with 15 others, is expected to resume today at the Military High Court in Kanombe, Defence and Military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita, has confirmed. In February, the court decided to adjourn the trial to allow the defendance teams to review their defence. This came after Lt. Joel Mutabazi and co-accused Joseph Nshimiyimana, alias Camarade, refused to respond to charges against them. Mutabazi’s lawyer withdrew from the trial on grounds that she had no “business defending a suspect who keeps changing goal posts.” Lawyer Antoinette Mukamusoni told court in February that Mutabazi was “full of surprises” and that he should look for another attorney. During the initial hearing in the Military Tribunal in Nyamirambo, Mutabazi had pleaded not guilty to all charges but he later changed his position without the consent of his lawyer and pleaded guilty. When the trial was moved to the Military High Court, Mutabazi decided to maintain silence and declined to respond to any of the judges’ questions. Another reason behind the three-month adjournment was the request by defence lawyers to have more time to review their clients’ case files. Lt. Mutabazi and his co-accused are charged separately with terrorism, murder, conspiracy to murder, and formation of an armed group, spreading rumours with intention to incite the public against the State, illegal possession of fire arms and forgery. Mutabazi is particularly charged with deserting the military, terrorism, formation of an armed group, spreading rumours with intent to incite the public to rise up against the State, murder, crimes against the State, illegal possession of a firearm and attempt to harm the person of the President. Among the suspects charged include two members of FDLR closely linked with Rwanda National Congress (RNC), eight former National University of Rwanda students recruited by RNC and suspected to be part of a terror cell of the FDLR, and close relatives of Mutabazi, including his younger brother Jackson Karemera.