Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has re-arrested two grassroots leaders and two members of District Administration Security Support Organ (DASSO) operating in Musanze District, for allegedly bribing and attempting to flee justice. The suspects had been arrested on May 14th 2020 for alleged assault and battery on two residents from the district who reportedly ignored wearing face-masks as a directive in place to fight the spread of coronavirus. The suspects include Jean Paul Sebashotsi Gasasira – the executive secretary of Cyuve Sector, Jean Léonidas Tuyisabimana – the executive secretary of Kabeza Cell from the sector, while Anaclet Nsabimana and Sylvain Abiyingoma are officers under DASSO. They had on Wednesday, June 10, been granted bail by Musanze Intermediate Court pending the substantive trial. The bail was granted to them on appeal, after a lower court, Muhoza Primary Court had earlier remanded them. However, the officials were re-arrested a day after they were granted bail over attempting to escape justice and corruption, RIB spokesperson Marie Michelle Umuhoza confirmed without revealing the circumstances under which the suspects committed the additional charges. “It is true, they (suspects) were all re-arrested for allegedly attempting to escape from justice and a separate charge of corruption,” she briefly said Umuhoza went on to say that the suspects were currently detained at RIB- Muhoza Station from Musanze City Centre. Initially, the suspects were captured in a video that went viral on social media platforms, assaulting two locals who reportedly ignored the directive to wear face-masks. In the video, the accused were vividly seen battering the victims in the public along Musanze-Kinigi road with some residents begging for a mercy on behalf of victims.
