Jailed Ibuka officials want Simburudari summoned

KIGALI - Five arraigned officials of IBUKA, an umbrella organization of Genocide survivors’ association, yesterday called for their president, Theodore Simburudari, to be produced before court, saying he is party to the case against them. They were appearing before the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court over alleged mismanagement of survivors’ funds, estimated in hundreds of millions. They include the Executive Secretary, Benoit Kaboyi, the Director of Finance, Naftal Ahishakiye, the Secretary General, Freddy Mutanguha, the vice president, Eugene Gashugi and Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, in charge of programmes. Prosecution accuses the officials of among other things; creating ghost beneficiaries and inflating the figures of survivors in some districts. According to the prosecution, over Rwf400 million was unaccounted for and that the officials have to explain how the money was spent. In court yesterday, almost all the accused demanded that Simburudari be produced in court since he is also a signatory to the money allegedly misappropriated. The case was adjourned to Monday next week when the court will determine whether the accused can be granted bail or sent on remand. The Deputy Prosecutor General, Alphonse Hitiyaremye, told this newspaper last week that the suspects also used forged documents reportedly to steal the money. “It’s about the mismanagement of survivors’ funds. They released the money which does not match with the work on the ground,” Hitiyaremye had earlier explained. The officials were arrested following an internal audit carried out last year which unearthed some discrepancies and irregularities within the coffers of the organisation. IBUKA was created in 1995 in order to address issues of justice, memory, social and economic problems faced by survivors. Ends

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Jailed Ibuka officials want Simburudari summoned