The Military High Court has set August 29 as the date for the ruling in the trial of Lt Joel Mutabazi and 15 others. Prosecution had sought a life sentence for Mutabazi and 37 years for each of the eight students of the former National University of Rwanda. Cyprien Rwisanga Nibishaka, regarded by the prosecution as the ringleader of the group at the university pleaded not guilty and sought his immediate release. He added that one of the co-accused, Jean de Dieu Nizigiyeyo, was bribed with Rwf600,000 to give false testimony against the group. “He (Nizigiyeyo) received Rwf200,000 in cash before and Rwf400,000 was later deposited on his bank account at Agaseke in Musanze,” Nibishaka claimed. Niyigizeyo, however, told court that Nibishaka’s statements are lies, adding that he is ready to be convicted if it is proved that his account ever held Rwf400,000. He maintained that he informed security personnel of the group’s plot because he felt it was dangerous to society. His lawyer, Herbert Rubasha, said when someone withdraws from a criminal enterprise before the actual crime takes place, the person is considered not guilty.
