The Kicukiro Primary Court has adjourned the bail hearing of Valens Uwitonze, a technical assistance specialist in the Wood and Furniture Small and Medium-sized Enterprises sector at the Rwanda Standard Board (RSB), and his co-accused to November 9.He is being prosecuted with John Manzi, who is facing charges of complicity in a corruption crime and the use of forged documents.Uwitonze was apprehended on October 20 while accepting a bribe of Rwf 25 million in exchange for issuing a quality certificate.ALSO READ: Standards board official to be arraigned over graftDuring the session, held on November 7, the presiding judge decided to postpone the bail hearing. This ruling came after the defendant's lawyers failed to appear in court for various reasons. The suspects emphasized that they were not prepared to start the hearing without their lawyers.The prosecution also agreed to the decision to adjourn, arguing that, according to the law, the defendant has the right to be defended in court. They added that during the previous interrogation, the defendant had lawyers.ALSO READ: Rwanda Standard Board official arrested over Rwf25m bribeMeanwhile, according to Article 15 of the anti-corruption law, any public servant or individual holding a public office who abuses their position or the powers associated with it with the intent to gain an unlawful advantage for themselves or another party by either performing or failing to act in violation of the law, is considered to have committed an offense.Upon conviction, the suspect is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but not more than 10 years, and a fine of not less than Rwf 5 million but not more than Rwf 10 million.In addition, where the offence is committed to getting a profit valuable in money, the penalty becomes imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than 10 years and a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited.
