Prosecution has matured – Ngoga

Prosecutor-General Martin Ngoga, Friday, said 10 years since the reforms in the judiciary were initiated, the prosecution is now considered a mature institute.He made the remarks during the prosecution’s General Assembly that drew prosecutors from across the country.“Maturity is not about people who have been in an institution for long; it’s about dynamism and having advanced structures. If we claim maturity, we have to project it in what we do, otherwise we would be negating the whole system of reforms,” said Ngoga.He, however, told his fellow prosecutors that the challenge ahead of them was to sustain what has been achieved and in doing so, there will be need to pay a price of commitment.Records show that the prosecution reduced case backlog by prosecuting aboutin 43,000 cases last year alone.Illegal detentionThe Prosecutor General also warned prosecutors in various instances that there is no excuse for any of them to authorise an illegal detention of a suspect or delay the legal process.“Rwanda excelled in justice delivery worldwide, but why do we still have people detained illegally? You who do this, whose interest are you serving? Is there anyone who sent you to deliver such service?” Ngonga questioned.“We are talking about people’s rights that are accorded to them by the constitution. Taking people to court in due time is not doing them a favour, its exercising their right. We will not, whatsoever, tolerate anyone responsible for an illegal detention,” he warned.Among the cases prosecuted last year, 86.8 per cent were convicted while 13.2 per cent were acquitted. Gicumbi district registered the highest number of cases prosecuted and convicted (94 per cent) while Rusizi district came last on the table with 75 per cent.The prosecutors’ general assembly is an annual meeting that examines the performance of prosecutors, identifies errors committed in prosecuting cases and sets the pace of the next year’s performance rate.