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Rwanda Criminal

High Court

UBUSHINJACYAHA v GAHIGI

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Professional case brief

Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The court held that the prosecution's failure to file written submissions did not render its appeal inadmissible, as the law does not provide for such a consequence. The court found the eyewitness testimony against Gahigi Didace credible and sufficient for conviction. The court also found no basis to increase the sentences, particularly for the minor, given the circumstances and the explanations provided in the first instance judgment.

Court disposition

Appeals dismissed; first instance judgment affirmed.

Orders

  • The appeals of both Gahigi Didace and the prosecution are dismissed as unfounded.
  • The judgment in RPMin 0023/12/TGI/MHG of 22/01/2013 remains unchanged in all respects.
  • Gahigi Didace is ordered to pay 12,725 Rwandan Francs as part of the court costs, failing which the amount will be recovered by force.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Appellant/respondent

Gahigi Didace

Appellant/accused Counsel: Me Karima Etienne

Ngabirano Dagash

Co Accused

Amounts and remedies

  • Fine Imposed on Gahigi Didace: RWF 100,000
  • Court Costs Payable by Gahigi Didace: RWF 12,725

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Gahigi Didace argued he was convicted of an offence he did not commit, that the conviction was based on unreliable witness statements, and that those present at the scene were not all questioned. His counsel argued the prosecution's appeal should be dismissed for lack of written submissions. The prosecution argued the sentences were too lenient and should be increased.
Respondent
The prosecution maintained that the sentences were insufficient and should be increased. Gahigi Didace's counsel argued that the conviction was not supported by evidence and that the prosecution's appeal was procedurally defective.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Law No 21/2012 of 14/06/2012, Articles 1, 2, 18

    Failure to file written submissions with an appeal is not a ground for inadmissibility unless specifically provided by law.

  2. 02

    Law No 15/2004 of 12/06/2004, Article 65

    Eyewitness testimony is valid unless the accused can show it is unreliable or fabricated.

  3. 03

    General principles of juvenile justice

    Sentences for minors should not be increased if the minor admitted the offence, sought forgiveness, and was a student.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court held that the prosecution's failure to file written submissions did not render its appeal inadmissible, as the law does not provide for such a consequence. The court found the eyewitness testimony against Gahigi Didace credible and sufficient for conviction. The court also found no basis to increase the sentences, particularly for the minor, given the circumstances and the explanations provided in the first instance judgment.

Obiter and limits

  • The court noted that the prosecution had, in fact, provided its reasons for appeal prior to the hearing.
  • The court observed that the accused did not effectively challenge the credibility of the main eyewitness.

Court disposition

Appeals dismissed; first instance judgment affirmed.

  • The appeals of both Gahigi Didace and the prosecution are dismissed as unfounded.
  • The judgment in RPMin 0023/12/TGI/MHG of 22/01/2013 remains unchanged in all respects.
  • Gahigi Didace is ordered to pay 12,725 Rwandan Francs as part of the court costs, failing which the amount will be recovered by force.

Source and reliance status

High Court · 20 April 2014

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

High Court

Criminal· 20 April 2014

RPA 0101/13/HC/NYA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v GAHIGI

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2014-04-20 - Case/document no.: RPA 0101/13/HC/NYA - Collection: High Court

Text

Page 1

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. GAHIGI [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU – RPA 0101/13/HC/NYA, (Manirakiza, P.J.,) 20 04 2014] Amategeko yerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza nshinjabyaha – Ubujurire – Ntacyatuma ubujurire butakirwa hitwajwe ko nta myanzuro uwajuriye yatanze igihe yabikoze urubanza rugisomwa kuko itegeko ritabiteganya nk’impamvu ituma ikirego kitakirwa, Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize

y’imanza

z’imbonezamubano iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 1, 2, 18. Amategeko yerekeye ibimenyetso – Ubuhamya bw’uwabonye icyaha gikorwa ntibwateshwa agaciro, igihe uregwa avuga ko uwamubonye yabyumvise nyamara we ntaho abivuga cyangwa ngo uregwa abigaragarize urukiko ukundi. Itegeko no 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ry’ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 65. Amategeko yerekeye uburenganzira bw’umwana – Ibihano umwana yahawe ntibyakongerwa hashingiwe ku kuba yaracyemeye akagisabira imbabazi kandi yari n’umunyeshuri. Icyo Didace nawe yahawe nticyakongerwa kuko ari ciy’iremezo. Incamake y’ikibazo: Mu rubanza RP min 0023/12/tgi/mhg Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga rwahamije Gahigi Didace na mugenzi we wari ukiri

Page 2

umwana icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye ubunanirwe buhoraho bw’umubiri no gutakaza igice kimwe cyawo. Rwahanishije uwo mwana ukwezi kumwe kw’igifungo gisubitse mu guhe kingana n’ukwezi naho Gahigi Didace ahanishwa ihazabu ingana n’ibihumbi ijana ( 100 000. Frw). Gahigi Didace ndetse n’Ubushinjacyaha bajuririye Urukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Nyanza. Ku munsi w’iburanisha Gahigi yavuze ko yahamijwe icyaha atakoze. Ku ruhande rw’umwana, we yavuze ko icyaha acyemera ndetse n’igihano cyacyo. Uwunganira Gahigi Didace we yavuze ko uwo yunganira yahamijwe icyaha atakoze ndetse n’ubujurire bw’ubushinjacyaha bukaba budaherekejwe n’imyanzuro asaba ko byasuzumwa. Ubushinjacyaha bwo bwasabaga ko ibihano byahawe abaregwaga byakongerwa kuko ari bito. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Nta mpamvu zatuma ubujurire bw’Ubushinjacyaha butakiwra hitwaje ko nta myanzuro bwatanze kuko itangwa ku wundi muburanyi ndetse no ku rukiko kugirango hamenyekane impamvu z’ubujurire. Byongeye kandi ubushinjacyaha bwabikoze mbere y’iburanisha.

2. Ntiyavuga ko ubuhamya bwa Safari Oscar nta gaciro bwahabwa kuko ngo ibyo avuga ari ibyo yumvise mu gihe we yemeza ko yabyiboneye n’amaso kandi n’ingingo z’ubuhamya bwe zikaba zisobanuye mu byo zemeza.

3. Ibihano Gahigi n’umwana bareganwa hamwe ntibyakongerwa kuko habayeho kwita ku kuba umwe mu

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baregwaga yaburanye ari umwana, yemera icyaha, agisabira imbabazi ndetse ari n’umunyeshuri. Naho Gahigi Didace we ntaho bigaragara ko yahawe igihano gito kuko atigeze agabanyirizwa ahubwo yahawe igihano cy’ifatizo. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Ubujurire bw’ubushinjacyaha nta shingiro bufite. Urubanza rwajuririwe ntiruhindutse. Mu magarama y’urubanza uko yategetswe, Gahigi Didace agomba kwishyuramo 12.

700. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko ngenga no 01/2012/ol ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, ingingo ya 148. Itegeko N° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize

y’imanza

z’imbonezamubano iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, ingingo ya 1, 2, 18. Itegeko no 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ry’ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 65. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I.IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA

Page 4

[1] Mu rubanza RPmin 0023/12/tgi/mhg Gahigi Didace na Ngabirano Dagash baregwaga icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa bigambiriwe kandi byateye ubunanirwe buhoraho bw’umubiri no gutakaza igice cy’umubiri, urukiko rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga rwemeje ko icyo cyaha gihama Ngabirano Dagash Hanis ndetse na Gahigi Didace maze ruhanisha Ngabirano Dagash igihano cy’igifungo cy’ukwezi kumwe n’igice gisubitswe mu kwezi kumwe naho Gahigi Didace ahanishwa igihano cy’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi ijana(100000Frw) [2] Yaba Gahigi Didace, yaba ubushinjacyaha barajuriye maze ku munsi w’iburanisha wo ku wa 12/12/2013 no ku wa 15/05/2014;Gahigi Didace avuga ko yahamijwe icyaha atakoze. Ngabirano avuga ko icyaha yahamijwe yacyemeraga, ko n’igihano yahawe acyemera. Me Karima avuga ko Gahigi yahamijwe icyaha atakoze naho Ngabirano ko yaburanye yemera icyaha, ko urukiko rwazabiha agaciro. Ko ku bijyanye n’ubujurire

bw’ubushinjacyaha

butaherekejwe n’imyanzuro ko asaba ko byasuzumwa.Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko bwajuriye kubera ko abaregwa bahawe ibihano bito,ko byakongerwa. [3] Muri uru rubanza harasuzumwa kuba ubushinjacyaha bwarajuriye ntibuhite butanga umwanzuro byaba impamvu yo kutakira ubujurire, hasuzumwe niba icyaha Gahigi Didace yahamijwe ataragikoze,hasuzumwe niba ibihano byahawe abaregwa bikwiye kongerwa.

Page 5

II.IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYABYO a.Ku kibazo cyo kumenya niba ubushinjacyaha bwarajuriye ntibuhite butanga umwanzuro byaba impamvu yo kutakira ubujurire. [4] Me Karima wunganira abaregwa avuga ko ubushinjacyaha bwajuririye urubanza rugisomwa ariko ntibwatanga umwanzuro w’ubujurire kandi ubujurire buherekezwa n’mwanzuro. Ko rero babifata nko kutajurira mu gihe Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko habaho gusuzuma ibyavuzwe. [5] Hagendewe ku ngingo ya 1 ‘itegeko ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza mbonezamubano ivuga ko itegeko

rigenga

imiburanishirize

y’imanza mbonezamubano ari ryo rigenga indi miburanishirize iyo nta mategeko abigenga, urukiko rusanga kuba mu mpamvu zituma ikirego kitakirwa ziteganywa mu ngingo ya 2,18 z’itegeko no 21/2012 ryo ku wa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza mbonezamubano ntahateganyijwe kudatanga umwanzuro; nta mpamvu zatuma ubujurire bw’ubushinjacyaha butakirwa dore ko umwanzuro utangwa ku wundi muburanyi ndetse no ku rukiko mu rwego rwo kumenyesha impamvu z’ubujurire, ibyo ubushinjacyaha bukaba bwarabikoze mbere yuko iburanisha rikorwa. b. Ku kibazo cyo kumenya niba icyaha Gahigi Didace yahamijwe ataragikoze.

Page 6

[6] Mu bujurire bwe Gahigi Didace avuga ko yajuriye kubera ko urukiko rwamuhamije icyaha atakoze, ko rwashingiye ku mvugo z’abantu batari kumwe nyamara abo bari kumwe ntibabazwa, ko rero yahamijwe icyaha nta bimenyetso. Avuga ko icyaha cyakozwe na Ngabirano Dagash waje amutabara, ko kandi Nzigamasabo Venant yakubiswe inkoni kandi ko we ntayo yari afite, byongeye ko atari kumukubitira imbere y’iwe kandi nta kibazo bari basanganywe. Abajijwe abo bari kumwe birengagijwe kubazwa avuga ko hari nka Muhamadi naho Safari wabajijwe avuga ko yumvise, ubundi akavuga ko yabonye. Harerimana we avuga ko yasanze umuntu yakomeretse, ko ariko atemeza ko ari we wamukomerekeje. [7] Me Karima avuga ko Gahigi Didace yahamijwe icyaha cyo gukubita kubera ko Ngabirano wakubise Nzigamasabo Venant yarimo amutabara, ko ariko we atigeze akubita. Avuga ko abatangabuhamya bose babajijwe ari abahageze icyaha cyarangije gukorwa. Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko raporo ya muganga igaragaza Nzigamasabo yakubiswe, ko Gahigi mu bujurire bwe atavuguruza ibimenyetso byashingiweho. [8] Nubwo Gahigi Didace avuga ko yahamijwe icyaha atakoze, ntahakana ko mu bageze mbere aho Nzigamasabo Venant yakubitiwe harimo Safari Oscar. Kuba Oscar Safari ubwo yabazwaga mu bugenzacyaha yaremeje ko Nzigamasabo Venant yakubiswe na Ngabirano na Gahigi Didace ndetse ko ubwo yahageraga yasanze barwana Ngabiranio na Gahigi bose bafite

Page 7

inkoni bakubita Nzigamasabo Venant, urukiko rusanga ntaho Gahigi Didace ndetse n’umwunganira bahera bavuga ko Gahigi Didace yahamijwe icyaha atakoze. Kuvuga ko Safari Oscar ibyo avuga ari ibyo yumvise, urukiko rusanga nta gaciro byahabwa kubera ko Safari Oscar ubwo yabazwaga ntaho yigeze avuga ko ibyo avuga ari ibyo yumvise ko ahubwo agaragaza ko ibyo avuga yabyiboneye n’amaso. Kuba rero mu bujurire bwa Gahigi Didace nta kundi avuguruza ubuhamya bwa Safari Oscar, urukiko rusanga ubuhamya bwe bukwiye guhabwa agaciro dore ko ingingo z’ubuhamya bwe zisobanuye mu byo zemeza nkuko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 65 y’itegeko no 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004 ry’ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo. c. Ku kibazo cyo kumenya niba ibihano byahawe abaregwa bikwiye kongerwa [9] Ubushinjacyaha mu bujurire bwabo bavuga ko abaregwa bahawe ibihano bito, ko basaba ko byakongerwa. Me Karima Etienne avuga ko ibihano bya Gahigi Didace uretse no kuba bito bitari binakwiye kuko nta cyaha yakoze. Kuri Ngabirano Dagash ko yaburanye yemera icyaha, asaba imbabazi, ko urukiko rwabiha agaciro agahabwa amahirwe yo gukosoka, akagumana ibihano yahawe. [10] Mu rubanza rujuririrwa Gahigi Didace yahamijwe icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa ahanishwa igihano cy’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi ijana(100000Frw) naho Ngabirano Dagash nawe amaze guhamwa n’icyo cyaha yahanishijwe igihano cy’igifungo cy’ukwezi kumwe n’igice gisubitswe mu

Page 8

kwezi kumwe. Kuba ingingo ya 148 y’itege ngenga no 01/2012/ol ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana iteganya igihano cy’igifungo kuva ku mezi atandatu kugeza ku myaka ibiri n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi ijana(100000Frw) kugeza ku bihumbi Magana atanu(500000Frw) cyangwa kimwe gusa muri ibyo bihano ku muntu ukubita agakomeretsa undi abishaka,Gahigi Didace akaba yarahanishijwe igihano

cy’ihazabu

y’amafaranga

ibihumbi ijana(100000Frw) naho Ngabirano agahanishwa igihano cy’ukwezi kumwe n’igice gisubitswe;urukiko rusanga ibihano bahawe mu rukiko rubanza harasobanuwe impamvu zashingiweho aho Ngabirano yagabanyirijwe ibihano ndetse akabisubikirwa kubera ko yaburanye ari umwana, yemera icyaha, agisabira imbabazi ndetse ari n’umunyeshuli naho Gahigi Didace we igihano yahawe ntaho bigaragara ko ari gito kuko nta naho yigeze agabanyirizwa ahubwo yahawe igihano cy’ifatizo. [11] Kuba rero ubushinjacyaha busaba ko ibihano byakongerwa ngo kuko abaregwa bahawe ibihano bito, urukiko rusanga bitahabwa agaciro kubera ko ubushinjacyaha budasobanura impamvu zashingirwaho byongerwa bityo ibihano abaregwa bahawe mu rukiko rubanza bikaba bitagomba guhindurwa. III.ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [12] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Gahigi Didace nta shingiro buhawe.

Page 9

[13] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bw’ubushinjacyaha nta shingiro buhawe. [14] Rwemeje

ko

urubanza

RPMin 0023/12/TGI/MHG rwaciwe ku wa 22/01/2013 rudahinduka mu ngingo zarwo zose. [15] Rutegetse ko mu magarama y’urubanza uko ari amafaranga ibihumbi makumyabiri na bitanu magana ane mirongo itanu(25450Frw),Gahigi Didace atangamo amafaranga ibihumbi cumi na bibiri magana arindwi makumyabiri n’atanu(12725Frw), atayatanga agakurwa mu bye ku ngufu za Leta.

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Law No 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 on civil, commercial, labor and administrative procedure, Articles 1, 2, 18

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law No 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 on evidence and its production, Article 65

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Organic Law No 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 establishing the penal code, Article 148

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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