Case of businesswoman found with guns goes to prosecution

Rwanda National Police has completed preliminary investigations in the case involving city businesswoman Josephine Uwamwezi, also known as Nyiragasazi, days after her arrest over illegal firearms found in her residential house in Kimihurura sector. Her case is now with prosecution. Uwamwezi was arrested last week in her Kimihurura home after a construction company, working on a road extension graded part of her house and discovered six deer hunting rifles that were stashed in her house. Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Faustin Nkusi, the spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution Authority, said they had received the file from police and they would produce her before court “soon”. According to Nkusi, Uwamwezi, who owned La Comete, one of the first designer clothing stores in Kigali after the Genocide, is likely to be charged with complicity in the crime of illegal possession of firearms. “We will also conduct our investigation before we submit our report to the court with the final indictment, but so far she stands accused of complicity in illegal possession of fire arms which is punishable under article 671 of the penal code,” he said. The suspect remains in custody at the holding cells of Nyarugunga prosecution, next to Nyarugunga Primary Court, the same court where she is supposed to be arraigned. After her arrest, police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Celestin Twahirwa said the guns seemed very old, and that Uwamwezi had told them that they belonged to her ex-husband who last used them before 1994. Conviction might result into a term of imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of Rwf300,000 to Rwf3,000,000. But the same article 671 on guns in the Penal Code states that any person who illegally and in any way imports, stocks, sells, manufactures or distributes arms, or their parts, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than 5 years to 7 years and a fine of Rwf500,000 to Rwf5,000,000. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

News

Case of businesswoman found with guns goes to prosecution