Former mufti Gahutu faces fraud charges

The former Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Abdul Karim Gahutu, who was arrested last week, could be charged with fraud and deceit to obtain money by false pretense. According to Police spokesperson Celestin Twahirwa, Sheikh Gahutu was arrested after he was reported to have illegally obtained more than Rwf20 million. “He was given money to deliver somewhere by businessman Sentare but he didn’t deliver the money. He personally admits to not delivering the money. Investigators have already delivered his file to the prosecution,” he said. Twahirwa added that Gahutu claimed to have committed the crime with other people but the said persons denied being part of the deal. “People he claimed to have committed the crime with denied knowledge of anything and we don’t have them in custody. However, if prosecution requests us to produce the other people named by Gahutu for further investigations, then we will do so,” Twahirwa said. The Spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution, Alain Mukuralinda, said Prosecution received Gahutu’s file from Police on Monday and that he’s being questioned to gather more details. Mukuralinda explained that usually the prosecution has five working days to prepare its case and thereafter decide whether the accused is remanded for 30 days as investigations continue or if they can be released but still continue to be investigated while outside. “We will know by the end of the week what his fate is; whether to release him on provisional basis or detain him as investigations continue, otherwise, he could be arraigned before the Nyarugenge Court of First Instance any time soon,” he added. Sheikh Gahutu was elected Mufti of Rwanda in August 2011, replacing Sheikh Saleh Habimana. However, Gahutu was forced to resign by the Rwanda Muslims Association’s Supreme Council in July 2013 during an extraordinary Supreme Council meeting. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Former mufti Gahutu faces fraud charges