Ntaganda loses bail appeal

High Court yesterday denied Bernard Ntaganda bail after he appealed court decision to remand him pending investigations into his case. Ntaganda was early this month denied bail by Nyarugenge court which cited the serious nature of the charges against him. The embattled leader of a breakaway faction of PS-Imberakuri political party was arrested on charges of organising a terrorist group, threatening state security and inciting ethnic divisionism. While defending his appeal before High Court judges, Ntaganda had among other things stated that the Nyarugenge court had no jurisdiction to try him since he is a political figure. However, reading out the high court decision on the appeal, presiding Judge Alice Rulisa said that Ntaganda failed to produce proof that he is supposed to be treated differently according to the law. He also contested the situation under which he was arrested and detained before being produced before the court and said that it was unlawful. This, the judge said was baseless since he could not proven it before court. On the charges of inciting ethnic divisionism, Ntaganda argued that he did not incite any divisionism, but was criticizing the ruling party. On this the judge said that Ntaganda could have criticized the ruling party by not using hate words which can compromise the security of the country. Ends

National

Ntaganda loses bail appeal