Museums boss to appear before court next week

The National Public Prosecution Authority has submitted to court all files to pave way for proceedings against Alphonse Umulisa, the director-general of the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR) to start. Umulisa, who was arrested on May 16, was by press time detained at Nyamirambo Police Station. Speaking to The New Times, prosecution spokesperson Faustin Nkusi said it is up to the registry of Nyarugenge Intermediate Court to schedule the hearing, adding that it was likely to be during the course of next week. According to Nkusi, the suspect will be charged for giving undue advantages during execution of a contract, awarding a tender without open competitive bidding, misuse of public funds and embezzlement, and destruction of property. Information from prosecution indicates that the alleged crimes were all committed last year between June and July. “We have completed our interrogation process, and have submitted the case to the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court for trial process, his mention will be about pre trial detention,” Nkusi said. He said Umulisa, who assumed office in 2009, was involved in the mentioned financial crimes while handling business in three museum branches in the districts of Kicukiro (Presidential Palace Museum), Nyarugenge (Kandt House) and the Natural History Museum in Huye. Nkusi declined to delve further into the details of the charges, saying it would come out during the hearing but that the entire case involves more than Rwf300 million. So far, the institute has six museums spread across the country. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Museums boss to appear before court next week