Ingabire’s other co-accused appears in court

A new accomplice in the case involving Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, was yesterday arraigned before the Gasabo Intermediate Court for mention of his charges. Capt. Jean Marie Vianney Karuta is accused of being a member a terrorist group and planning activities aimed at causing state insecurity. Appearing before Judge Maurice Mbishibishi and flanked by his lawyer, Joseph Ngabonziza, Karuta a former FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) officer pleaded guilty. “I accept everything that the prosecution has against me and I plead guilty; however, I am no longer a security threat that is why I am applying for bail,” Karuta told the Court. He admitted having met with Ingabire and the Secretary General of FDU-Inkingi Jean Baptiste Mberabahizi in Kinshasa, DRC, and briefed them on the situation of his forces in the Congo jungles and what was required to boost them. According to the prosecutor, Richard Muhumuza, the accused joined the FDLR in November 1998, after completing military training and other military courses in Congolese military academies. He said that Karuta later defected from FDLR together with Lt. Col Tharcisse Nditurende and Lt. Col Noel Habiyakare and joined hands to form the FDU-Inkingi’s armed wing, CDF-Inkingi, whose main aim was to destabilize security in the country. The two Colonels are also on remand and have pleaded guilty of having acted in cohorts with Ingabire to form the rebel movement. Dressed in a black andarmy-green shirt, a leather jacket and black trousers, Karuta pleaded with the court to be released on bail. “I have been willingly admitting to the charges and I am ready to cooperate with the court,” Karuta pleaded. The prosecution immediately objected arguing that the charges were serious and that he should remain in detention in the course of the trial. Judge Bishibishi set the bail ruling for Monday afternoon. The same court last month granted Ingabire provisional release but Nditurende and Habiyakare were denied this on basis that they have no permanent residence in Rwanda, having fled the country immediately after the Genocide. Ends

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Ingabire’s other co-accused appears in court