Holland hands over Ingabire evidence

The long awaited pieces of evidence incriminating Victoire Ingabire were at last handed over to the prosecution by the Dutch Ambassador, Frans Makken, yesterday. In a press statement, prosecution spokesman, Alain Mukuralinda, said they received the documents after long joint efforts between the prosecution in Kigali and their counterparts in Holland. The evidence includes several documents discovered during a search of Ingabire’s residence in Holland. Prosecution alleges that they contain proof of her subversive activities, telephone records that indicate her past communication with militia commanders. They also include testimonies of people in The Netherlands who worked alongside the accused. The transfer comes after a protracted battle between the prosecution in the Netherlands and Ingabire’s husband, who, on several accounts, attempted to block the transfer of the documents. The Court in The Hague earlier this month threw out a legal suit and ordered that the documents be transferred to Rwanda. Ingabire and her four co-accused are currently on trial on charges of; forming an armed group, terrorism, complicity to commit terrorism, and genocide ideology, among others. The issue of the evidence in question was first raised on September 5, when prosecution requested the court to adjourn the hearing pending the transfer of the documents. Alice Rulisa, the presiding judge in the trial that has been going on for the last two months, had earlier ruled that the case would have to adjourn pending the transfer of the evidence. Ingabire’s co-accused, all former senior members of the DRC-based FDLR militia – linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi – are among those who testified against her, insisting she directly worked with them when they were still members of the terrorist group. Ends

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Holland hands over Ingabire evidence