BANQUE POPULAIRE DU RWANDA PLC v. AKARERE KA NYAMASHEKE

BANQUE POPULAIRE DU RWANDA PLC v. AKARERE KA NYAMASHEKE

The Supreme Court held that while the applicable law (Article 78 of Law No. 12/2007) prescribes 1% daily interest for late payment of public procurement guarantees, the resulting sum (639,923,932 Frw) was manifestly excessive compared to the principal (19,935,235 Frw) and the actual loss. The Court exercised its...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RS/INJUST/RCOM 00006/2022/SC
Parties
Applicant: Banque Populaire du Rwanda Plc (BPR Bank Plc); Respondent: Akarere ka Nyamasheke
Court
Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
27 January 2023
Case Number
RS/INJUST/RCOM 00006/2022/SC
Procedural Posture
Commercial Contract Dispute / Supreme Court Judgment on Review for Injustice
Outcome
Applicant's review application allowed in part; previous judgment modified as to quantum of interest.
Legal Topics
State Contracts, Performance Guarantees, Delay Penalties, Interest on Late Payment, Judicial Review, Retroactivity of Law
Public Procurement Banking Law Contract Law State Contracts Performance Guarantees Delay Penalties Interest on Late Payment Judicial Review +1 more

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Parties

Banque Populaire du Rwanda Plc (BPR Bank Plc)

Applicant

Akarere ka Nyamasheke

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Commercial Contract Dispute / Supreme Court Judgment on Review for Injustice

  1. 1 Whether statutory interest on delayed payment of a public procurement guarantee can be reduced by the court as excessive
  2. 2 Which law governs the calculation of interest on delayed payment of a public procurement guarantee
  3. 3 Whether the imposed interest constitutes an unreasonable penalty

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that while the applicable law (Article 78 of Law No. 12/2007) prescribes 1% daily interest for late payment of public procurement guarantees, the resulting sum (639,923,932 Frw) was manifestly excessive compared to the principal (19,935,235 Frw) and the actual loss. The Court exercised its discretion to reduce the interest to an amount equal to the guarantee, preventing unjust enrichment and aligning with principles of proportionality and fairness.

Court Disposition

Applicant's review application allowed in part; previous judgment modified as to quantum of interest.

Orders

  • BPR Bank Plc to pay Akarere ka Nyamasheke 19,935,235 Frw as interest for late payment of the guarantee.
  • No award of legal costs to Akarere ka Nyamasheke.