NPPA opens file on ex-BCDI chiefs

Following the closure of the trial of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Commerce, Development and Industry (BCDI), the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) has opened investigations on other individuals involved with the bank. High Court last week sentenced Alfred Kalisa to six years, overturning a ruling by a lower court which had sentenced him to two years for embezzlement and abuse of office. “Prosecution has now launched fresh investigations on all parties involved and whoever is found implicated will be taken to court,” NPPA Spokesman Augustin Nkusi said yesterday. This comes after Kalisa’s pleas to be tried jointly with other board members of the bank were approved by the Nyarugenge Court of Higher Instance. According to Nkusi, the High Court recommended that the board members be investigated. “This is different from the earlier decision by the lower court because the latter was ordering us to pursue these people. We are doing this just like the other investigations we are carrying out on different cases in an effort to curb economic crimes in the country,” he explained. He did not mention the names of those to be investigated. However, during the course of the trial, several names that came up included Jean Pierre Gatera, Manasseh Simba, Callixte Kajangwe, John Bosco Rusagara and another only identified as Habiyakare. “It is too early to predict the next step but we want to assure Rwandans that whoever will be found in the wrong will be brought before the courts of law,” Nkusi said. Arrested late 2006, Kalisa was accused of six counts that mainly revolved around mismanaging the bank for the one decade he was at the helm of the institution. It has since been bought by Ecobank. Nkusi also gave updates on the cases that are being handled by the NPPA including the one of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Justin Nsengiyumva. He is currently remanded on corruption charges. “We have since established that he used to connive with an official in the Central Bank (BNR) called Evariste Gasirabo through whom the fraudulent finances were channelled,” he explained. Nsengiyumva was caught red handed as he was trying to extort money from a supplier to the Ministry of Education so that he could speed up the payment process. Another case he mentioned being investigated by Police is one involving contractors who embezzled funds meant to build houses for Genocide survivors. Ends