SOUTHERN PROVINCE MUHANGA — Court in Nyamabuye Sector in Muhanga District on Tuesday sentenced five people all of them area local leaders in Nyamabuye to jail term over assault on a resident. Médard Rutaganda, Raphael Mucyanga, Christophe Bazantabara, Jean Bosco Safari, and André Nsanzumuhire were sent to Gitarama central prison to serve a jail term of between one and three months each after pleading guilty to the charges of assaulting Augustin Nkusi on the night of September 28. The leaders have been held in Nyamabuye police custody and were handed different jail terms over the alleged crime. According to prosecution, the leaders ganged up and manhandled Nkusi and seriously injured him on allegations of promoting prostitution in Nyarutovu village. The leaders apparently dragged Nkusi to Muhanga Police station but it was later found out that the victim had been assaulted in the process- which prompted an investigation into the matter. Sources among area residents say that Nkusi was falsely accused by the village head- André Nsanzumuhire, because they held previous personal grudges. According to the sources, the five have previously beaten up residents during the implementation of government programmes and residents have asked that the group is relieved of their duties. Efforts to interview Nkusi were fruitless but his associates say he is currently under medical attention. Ends
