Former minister Mitali on Interpol wanted list

The International Police (Interpol) has issued a red notice against the immediate former Rwandan ambassador to Ethiopia, Protais Mitali, who is wanted by Rwandan judicial authorities for prosecution. According to the extract of the red notice published on the Interpol website, Mitali who also served as the Minister of Sports and Culture, is wanted for embezzlement of funds and theft. The arrest warrant follows his indefinite expulsion from Liberal Party (PL) where he was party president and a lawsuit filed against him for misappropriation of party funds early this year. During the expulsion, the party alleged that following an internal audit conducted from January 2013 – June 2014 financial irregularities were exposed with reasons to believe that Mitali withdrew money and never accounted for it. Protais Mitali. (Internet photo) The audit indicated that about Rwf63 million had been unaccounted for. Mitali is alleged to have also used his authority as the head of the party to dupe other party officials who were co-signatories into signing checks. After being presented with the allegations, Mitali had quit his position in the party saying that he was not in position to discharge his responsibilities while out of the country. The development led him to be recalled from his ambassadorial position to following official complaints of suspected embezzlement, Mitali fled to Europe. According to Rwanda National Police (RNP), who work closely with Interpol when issuing such red notices, Mitali had since been requested to present himself to respond to the charges and facilitate investigations upon which he fled. Chief Superintendent of Police and RNP spokesperson, Célestin Twahirwa, said that Mitali fled from his diplomatic posting at the time he was being investigated. “After being requested to return for investigations, he fled leaving us no option but reach out to Interpol to issue a red notice,” Twahirwa said. The New Times’ efforts to reach top party officials were futile by press time.

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Former minister Mitali on Interpol wanted list