Rwanda: Investigation into Mrs. Ingabire cases could take a year – prosecution

"OVERWHELMING EVIDENCES not ENOUGH"-Augustin Nkusi told BBC Great lakes.
By RNA Reporter
Monday, 31 May 2010

Kigali: The National Prosecution Authority is locked in disagreement with opposition politician Ingabire Victoire over whether investigations into her charge-sheet should continue or the case is brought to court for a hearing. Ingabire has informed prosecution that she will no longer speak to investigators.

On Friday, the embattled head of the yet-to-be registered United Democratic Forces Inkingi party was summoned by prosecuting investigators. Ingabire was told to return on Monday for more interrogation to which she responded but also informed investigators that it would be the last time she is speaking.

“I will respond to any summons but will not say anything,” she told BBC Kinyarwanda service Monday evening.

Ingabire was charged April 22 in the Gasabo Intermediate Court sitting in Kabuga – some 25kilometers outside Kigali on three counts including negating the Tutsi Genocide, promoting ethnic divisionism and links to FDLR rebels.

The government was granted bail a day later with a 30-day period for investigations to continue. Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said at the time that prosecutors had enough evidence and even demanded that court schedule the start of the hearing as soon as possible.

The following week saw three alleged accomplices to Ingabire brought to court. They were Lt. Col Noël Habiyaremye, Lt. Col Tharcisse Mbiturende and Capt Jean-Marie-Vianney Karuta.

However, with up to 40 days after, Prosecution said Monday that investigations are still ongoing, and Ingabire is furious.

“I will not say anything anymore…it seems to me this is a concerted ploy by government to block me from participating in the elections,” she said, also adding that the arrest of her lawyer Prof. Peter Erlinder was part of the reasons for her latest protest.

For Prosecution spokesmen Augustin Nkusi, investigating prosecutors are still acting within the law. He told the BBC Kinyarwanda service that the law prescribes up to a year for prosecutors to carry out investigations on a criminal offence.

“If she does not speak, the investigating prosecutor will write exactly that…and investigations will continue until there is sufficient evidence,” said Nkusi.

“The evidence is there but insufficient at the moment,” he pointed out.

Mr. Nkusi urged Ingabire to cooperate with investigators for her own interest.

Last week, President Kagame revealed to a Ugandan newspaper that of the ten counts on Ingabire’s charge-sheet, she had admitted to seven of them.

Ingabire accuses the authorities of making up the charges to block her presidential aspirations, and has indicated she could file her candidacy as an independent candidate.