BIGIRIMANA v. RWANDA TRADING COMPANY (RTC) Ltd

# BIGIRIMANA v. RWANDA TRADING COMPANY (RTC) Ltd

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2021-11-26 - Case/document no.: RCOMAA 00096/2020/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal

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BIGIRIMANA v. RWANDA TRADING COMPANY (RTC) Ltd [Rwanda – Urukiko rw’ Ubujurire – RCOMAA 00096/2020/CA (Munyangeri, P.J.,) 26 Ugushyingo 2021] Amategeko agenga amasosiyete y’ ubucuruzi – Sosiyete – Umuyobozi cyangwa umunyamigabane wa Sosiyete – Umuyobozi cyangwa umunyamigabane wa sosiyete atandukanye mu buryo bw’amategeko na sosiyete abereye umuyobozi – Umuyobozi wa sosiyete wakoranye amasezerano y ubufatanye n’ indi sosiyete, ntiyaregwa ku giti cye ahubwo haregwa sosiyete abereye umuyobozi, nubwo ikirego gishingiye kurayo masezerano – Itegeko Nº 17/2018 ryo ku wa 13/04/2018 rigenga amasosiyete y’ubucuruzi, ingingo ya 23. Umuyobozi wa sosiyete wakoranye amasezerano y ubufatanye n indi sosiyete, ntiyaregwa ku giti cye ahubwo haregwa sosiyete abereye umuyobozi, nubwo ikirego gishingiye kurayo masezerano. Incamake y ikibazo: Sosiyete Rusenyi Coffee Growers yahawe inguzanyo na IMBANK, maze nayo iyiha ingwate, ariko inanirwa kwishyura, banki ishaka guteza cyamunara ingwate y’imashini z’uruganda rutunganya ikawa, ariko umuyobozi wa Rusenyi Coffee Growers ariwe Bigirimana Robert asaba ko yigurishiriza ingwate yahaye banki maze ayigurisha na sosiyete Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC). Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwasanze ikirego cyatanzwe na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd nta shingiro gifite kuko uruganda rwagurishijwe ari urwa Rusenyi Coffee Growers, kandi ko ari yo yishyuwe amafaranga y’ubugure, bityo ko Bigirimana Robert adakwiye gukurikiranwaho uwo mwenda. Rwanda Trading Company Ltd yajuririye icyo cyemezo, isaba Urukiko Rukuru rw’ubucuruzi gusuzuma niba Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rutaragaragarijwe ibimenyetso byemeza ko Bigirimana Robert ayibereyemo umwenda, isaba n’indishyi. Bigirimana Robert we avuga ko ubujurire nta shingiro bufite kuko nta mwenda abereyemo Rwanda Trading Company Ltd, na we akaba yarasabye indishyi. Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwasanze umutungo wagurishijwe ari uwa Bigirimana kandi ko ari we wawugurishije nk’uko ibimenyetso bigizwe n’inyandiko zitandukanye zibigaragaza. Bigirimana yajuririye icyo cyemezo mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwahinduye amasezerano Rwanda Trading Company Ltd yagiranye na Rusenyi Coffee Growers ruyagira aye ku giti cye, avuga kandi ko yaciwe indishyi zerekeranye n’amasezerano atagizemo uruhare. Bigirimana Robert yisobanura avuga ko Rwanda Trading Company Ltd ari yo yihamagariye Bigirimana Robert ku munsi wa cyamunara bamubwira ko nomero ya telefoni ye bayihawe na Banki, akaba asanga hari akagambane na Banki, kubera ko bagurishije umutungo we atari wo wagombaga kugurishwa, ko ibyo yakoze byose yabikoreraga Rusenyi Coffee Growers.

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Rwanda Trading Company Ltd nayo yisobanura ivuga ko Bigirimana yagurishije imitungo ye bwite yari yaratanzeho ingwate muri I & M Bank, hamaze gushyirwaho umunsi wo guteza cyamunara uwo mutungo, Bigirimana asaba Banki kwigurishiriza kugira ngo adahomba iramwemerera, maze yumvikana na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd kugura uwo mutungo. Umuyobozi wa Rwanda Trading Company Ltd witwa Ndayisenga Jean Jacques yisobanuye avuga ko Bigirimana Robert ari we wamusabye ko igura uwo mutungo, basaba ko hakorwa ihererekanyamutungo, aba ari bwo Bigirimana Robert avuga ko yahawe amafaranga make kuyo yari yagurishije imashini. Incamake y’ icyemezo: 1.Umuyobozi cyangwa umunyamigabane wa sosiyete atandukanye mu buryo bw’amategeko na sosiyete abereye umuyobozi. Umuyobozi wa sosiyete wakoranye amasezerano y ubufatanye n indi sosiyete, ntiyaregwa ku giti cye ahubwo haregwa sosiyete abereye umuyobozi, nubwo ikirego gishingiye kurayo masezerano. 2. Kuba Bigirimana Robert adahakana ko Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) abereye umuyobozi ibereyemo umwenda Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC), iyi ikaba atari we yagombaga kurega, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) rero ikaba yarareze uwo itagombaga kurega, bityo urubanza rwajuririwe rukaba rugomba guhinduka. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro. Amagarama y urubanza aherereye ku wareze. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 17/2018 ryo ku wa 13/04/2018 rigenga amasosiyete y’ubucuruzi, ingingo ya 23. Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Urubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko rw’Ubucuruzi, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) irega Bigirimana Robert, isaba Urukiko kumutegeka kwishyura umwenda n’inyungu zawo bingana na miliyoni ijana n’imwe n’ibihumbi magana atatu na mirongo itanu (101. 350. 000 Frw). Yasobanuye ko Bigirimana Robert ari umuyobozi wa Rusenyi Coffee Growers, ikaba yarahawe inguzanyo na Banki, itanga ingwate y’imashini z’uruganda rutunganya ikawa, ntiyishyura uwo mwenda, bituma ubwishyu bujya gushakirwa mu ngwate, ariko Bigirimana Robert asaba Banki kwigurishiriza kuko yabonye umukiliya, akaba yaragurishije na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd ku giciro kingana na miliyoni ijana (100. 000. 000 Frw), amafaranga aratangwa nyamara Bigirimana Robert ntiyakora ihererekanyamutungo (mutation). Muri ayo mafaranga akaba yaragaruye miliyoni makumyabiri n’eshanu (25. 000. 000 Frw) gusa andi

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ntiyayatanga, akaba ari yo yishyuzwa hamwe n’inyungu zayo. Urubanza rwaburanishijwe ku rwego rwa mbere Bigirimana Robert atitabye. [2] Mu rubanza RCOM 01363/2019/TC rwaciwe ku wa 16/10/2019, Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rwasanze ikirego cyatanzwe na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd nta shingiro gifite kuko uruganda rwagurishijwe ari urwa Rusenyi Coffee Growers, kandi ko ari yo yishyuwe amafaranga y’ubugure, bityo ko Bigirimana Robert adakwiye gukurikiranwaho uwo mwenda. [3] Rwanda Trading Company Ltd yajuririye icyo cyemezo, isaba Urukiko Rukuru rw’ubucuruzi gusuzuma niba Urukiko rw’Ubucuruzi rutaragaragarijwe ibimenyetso byemeza ko Bigirimana Robert ayibereyemo umwenda, isaba n’indishyi. Bigirimana Robert we avuga ko ubujurire nta shingiro bufite kuko nta mwenda abereyemo Rwanda Trading Company Ltd, na we asaba indishyi. [4] Mu rubanza RCOMA 00907/2019/HCC rwaciwe ku wa 30/10/2020, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwasanze umutungo wagurishijwe ari uwa Bigirimana Robert kandi ko ari we wawugurishije nk’uko inyandiko zitandukanye zibigaragaza, rumutegeka kwishyura Rwanda Trading Company Ltd umwenda ungana na 75. 000. 000 Frw hamwe n’inyungu zawo zingana na 6. 187. 500 Frw, no gutanga indishyi z’ibyagiye ku rubanza zingana na 1. 200. 000 Frw. [5] Bigirimana Robert yajuririye icyo cyemezo mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, avuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwahinduye amasezerano Rwanda Trading Company Ltd yagiranye na Rusenyi Coffee Growers ruyagira aye ku giti cye, ko kandi yaciwe indishyi zerekeranye n’amasezerano atagizemo uruhare. [6] Urubanza rwahawe amatariki y’iburanisha atandukanye ariko ntiruburanishwe ku mpamvu zitandukanye, ku wa 28/10/2021 ruburanishwa mu ruhame, Bigirimana Robert yunganiwe na Me Rushikama Niyo Justin, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd ihagarariwe na Me Biseruka Frank. II. IBIBAZO BIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYABYO  Kumenya niba Bigirimana Robert akwiye kwishyuzwa amafaranga yahawe Rusenyi Coffee Growers [7] Bigirimana Robert na Me Rushikama Niyo Justin umwunganira bavuga ko Rwanda Trading Company Ltd yahaye Rusenyi Coffee Growers sheki ya miliyoni ijana (100.000.000 Frw), ayo mafaranga akaba adakwiye kwitirirwa Bigirimana Robert ku giti cye, ko rero miliyoni mirongo irindwi n’eshanu (75.000.000 Frw) zisigaye, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd igomba kuzishyuza Rusenyi Coffee Growers, kubera ko ari sosiyete ifite umutungo wayo utagize aho uhuriye n’uwa Bigirimana Robert. Bavuga kandi ko Rwanda Trading Company Ltd ari yo yihamagariye Bigirimana Robert ku munsi wa cyamunara bamubwira ko nomero ya telefoni ye bayihawe na Banki, akaba asanga hari akagambane na Banki, kubera ko bagurishije umutungo we atari wo wagombaga kugurishwa, ko ibyo yakoze byose yabikoreraga Rusenyi Coffee Growers. Me Biseruka Frank uhagarariye Rwanda Trading Company Ltd avuga ko Bigirimana Robert yagurishije imitungo ye bwite yari yaratanzeho ingwate muri I & M Bank, ko hatangajwe

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itegeko rya Perezida w’Urukiko rishyiraho umunsi wo guteza cyamunara uwo mutungo, Bigirimana Robert asaba Banki kwigurishiriza kugira ngo adahomba iramwemerera, maze yumvikana na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd kugura uwo mutungo ku giciro cya miliyoni ijana (100.000.000 Frw), igihe cyo kwishyura kigeze Bigirimana Robert asaba ko sheki yandikwa ku mazina ya Rusenyi Coffee Growers, iyi na yo yishyura Banki umwenda yari iyifitiye. Me Biseruka Frank akomeza avuga ko hari inyandiko yo ku wa 18/12/2018 Bigirimana Robert yanditse mu mazina ye, yemera ko afitiye Rwanda Trading Company Ltd 100.000.000 Frw, akaba yarishyuyeho 25.000.000 Frw, iyo yandikiye Banki ayimenyesha ko umutungo we waguzwe na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd, anasaba gukuraho itambama wari warakorewe, ibyo byose bikaba byarakozwe mu mazina ya Bigirimana Robert [8] Umuyobozi wa Rwanda Trading Company Ltd witwa Ndayisenga Jean Jacques mu iburanisha, yasobanuriye Urukiko ko Bigirimana Robert ari we wamusabye ko Rwanda Trading Company Ltd igura uwo mutungo ku munsi wa cyamunara, ko uwo munsi yari yanafashe urugendo rwerekeza ku Kibuye, akaba yarahamagaye kuri biro abwira abahasigaye kumwishyura, ko igihe cyageze basaba ko hakorwa ihererekanyamutungo (mutation), aba ari bwo Bigirimana Robert avuga ko bamuhaye amafaranga make, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd imusaba gusubiza ayo yamuhaye, yishyura 25.000.000 Frw, avuga ko andi azayishyura nyuma, ko haba mu mishyikirano bagiranye, mu butumwa bagiranye, nta na hamwe Bigirimana Robert yigeze yitwara nk’uhagarariye Rusenyi Coffee Growers. Uko Urukiko rubibona [9] Ingingo ya 23 y’Itegeko Nº 17/2018 ryo ku wa 13/04/2018 rigenga amasosiyete y’ubucuruzi, iteganya ko:”Iyo inyandiko z’ishingwa z’isosiyete zanditswe, isosiyete iba ishinzwe hakurikijwe iri tegeko nk’isosiyete ifite ubuzimagatozi bwite butandukanye n’ubw’abanyamigabane bayo”. [10] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza ko mu rubanza RS/REV/INJUST/COM 0002/13/CS, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwemeje ko ikirego cyatanzwe na Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) n’abishingizi bayo (Bigirimana Robert, CACAM n’abandi) gisaba gusubirishamo urubanza ku mpamvu z’akarengane gifite ishingiro kuri bimwe, rutegeka Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG), Bigirimana Robert na Cooperative CACAM gufatanya guha I & M Bank Ltd 420.941.755 Frw, undi muburanyi ruvuga ko atagomba gufatanya na bo kwishyura, rutegeka I & M Bank Ltd ku ruhande rumwe na Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) n’abishingizi bayo ari bo Bigirimana Robert na Cooperative CACAM ku rundi ruhande, gufatanya guha umuhanga 5.100.000 Frw, buri ruhande rugatanga ½ cy’ayo kingana na 2.550.000 Frw, zigafatanya no kwishyura mu buryo bungana igihembo cy’abahanga batatu bashyizweho mu rubanza, rutegeka I& M Bank ku ruhande rumwe, na Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) n’abishingizi bayo ari bo Bigirimana Robert na Cooperative CACAM ku rundi ruhande, gufatanya gutanga amagarama y’urubanza angana na 100.000 Frw, buri ruhande rugatanga ½ cyayo kingana na 50.000 Frw, rwemeza ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOMA 0025/ kingana na 50.000 Frw, rwemeza ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOMA 0025/10/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 12/10/2012 ihindutse kuri bimwe. [11] Dosiye y’urubanza igaragaza kandi ko Bigirimana Robert yategetswe gufatanya na Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) na Cooperative CACAM kwishyura I & M Bank Ltd umwenda

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ungana na 420.941.755 Frw, kubera ko, nk’umuyobozi wayo (Managing Director) yari yayibereye umwishingizi we na Cooperative CACAM. [12] Mu rubanza RCOMA 00907/2019/HCC rwaciwe ku wa 30/10/2020, Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi rwasanze umutungo wagurishijwe ari uwa Bigirimana Robert kandi ko ari we wawugurishije nk’uko inyandiko zitandukanye zibigaragaza, rumutegeka kwishyura Rwanda Trading Company Ltd umwenda ungana na 75. 000. 000 Frw hamwe n’inyungu zawo zingana na 6. 187. 500 Frw, no gutanga indishyi z’ibyagiye ku rubanza zingana na 1. 200. 000 Frw. [13] Mu isesengura ry’inyandiko ziri muri dosiye, bigaragara ko umwenda Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) itari yakarangije kwishyura uruhare rwayo ku mwenda ungana na 420.941.755 Frw yategetswe gufatanya n’abishingizi bayo kwishyura, bikaba bitafatwa ko igihe cyamunara yateganywaga, Bigirimana Robert yari akurikiranweho umwenda ku ruhare rwe cyangwa ngo abe yarakuwe ku mwanya w’umuyobozi wa Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG), ku buryo yafatwa nk’ukora amasezerano mu izina rye bwite. [14] Urukiko rumaze gusesengura inyandiko zikubiye muri dosiye, cyane cyane izagiye zikorwa hagati ya Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) na Bigirimana Robert, ikigaragara ni uko ababuranyi bemeranywa ku ngano y’amafaranga yatanzwe, agashyirwa kuri konti ya Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG), ikibazo kikaba icyo kumenya icyasezeranwe mu gihe Bigirimana Robert avuga ko igihe yemereraga Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) kugirana amasezerano y’ubufatanye na Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) yakoraga mu izina ryayo (RCG) ayibereye umuyobozi n’umunyamigabane, naho Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) ikavuga ko yagiranye amasezerano na Bigirimana Robert ku giti cye yo kugura imitungo afatanyije n’umugore we Uwimana Jeanne yari igiye gutezwa cyamunara. [15] Urukiko rurasanga, ababuranyi badafite impaka ku kuba bataragiranye amasezerano y’ubugure yanditse asobanure neza inshingano za buri ruhande, nubwo mu manza z’ubucuruzi bishoboka ko n’ibindi bimenyetso byashingirwaho iyo bigaragaye ko bihagije, ariko ibishingirwaho byuko inyandiko Bigirimana Robert yakoze zitakozwe mu izina rya Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG), nta shingiro byahabwa kuko, nkuko bigaragara mu gika cya cumi cy’urubanza rujuririrwa, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) yivugiye ko impamvu yishyuye Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) ari uko Bigirimana Robert wagurishije yari umuyobozi wa Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG), ko ariyo mpamvu amafaranga yagombaga gushyirwa kuri konti ya Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) kuko ariyo yishyuraga umwenda wa banki. [16] Urukiko rurasanga, kuba Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) yariyemereye ko Bigirimana Robert yagurishije nk’ umuyobozi wa Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) kandi kuva urubanza rw’umwenda wa Banki ruciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rwego rw’akarengane kugeza uyu munsi Bigirimana Robert akiri umuyobozi wa sosiyete yishyuwe na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC), imvugo ya Bigirimana Robert n’umwunganira, aho basobanura ko amafaranga miliyoni ijana yashyizwe kuri konti ya Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) bisabwe na Bigirimana Robert nk’umuyobozi wayo, yari ayo kwishyura umwenda wayo yari ifitiye Bank, hanyuma amasezerano yubufatanye akaba ariyo akomeza hagati ya Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) na Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) igomba guhabwa ishingiro, kuko iyo ababuranyi bataza kuba ari byo bumvikanye, Bigirimana Robert yari gusaba Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) gushyira ayo mafaranga kuri konte ye, noneho Banki ikazaba ariho iyavana

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igiye kwiyishyura kuko nk’umuyobozi n’umunyamigabane wa Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG), atandukanye nayo (deux personnes juridiquement distinctes) nkuko ingingo ya 23 y’Itegeko Nº 17/2018 ryo ku wa 13/04/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru ibiteganya. [17] Urukiko rurasanga, Bigirimana Robert adahakana ko Rusenyi Coffee Growers (RCG) abereye umuyobozi ibereyemo umwenda Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC), iyi ikaba atari we yagombaga kurega, nkuko bimaze kugaragazwa haruguru ko umuyobozi cyangwa umunyamigabane atandukanye mu buryo bw’amategeko na sosiyete abereye umuyobozi, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd (RTC) rero ikaba yarareze uwo itagombaga kurega, bityo urubanza rwajuririwe rukaba rugomba guhinduka.  Ku byerekeye amafaranga y’igihembo cy’Avoka, ay’ikurikiranarubanza n’indishyi kubera gushorwa mu manza. [18] Bigirimana Robert n’umwunganira basaba ko Rwanda Trading Company Ltd imuha miliyoni ebyiri (2.000.000 Frw) y’igihembo cy’Avoka, ibihumbi magana atanu (500.000 Frw) y’ikurikiranarubanza na miliyoni imwe (1.000.000 Frw) y’indishyi zo kwicirwa izina kubera gushorwa mu manza. [19] Me Biseruka Frank uhagarariye Rwanda Trading Company Ltd avuga ko Bigirimana Robert atahabwa amafaranga asaba, kubera ko ari we nyirabayazana w’urubanza, ahubwo agasaba ko Bigirimana Robert aha Rwanda Trading Company Ltd miliyoni ebyiri (2.000.000 Frw) kuri uru rwego, akubiyemo amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza n’igihembo cy’Avoka, kubera ko akomeje kuyisiragiza mu manza kandi yemera umwenda yishyuzwa. Uko Urukiko rubibona [20] Ingingo ya 111 y’itegeko Nº 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi iteganya ko”Ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ari ikirego gishamikiye ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamijkigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. Kiburanishirizwa rimwe n’ikirego cy’iremezo." [21] Urukiko rurasanga kuba ubujurire bwatanzwe na Bigirimana Robert bwahawe ishingiro, indishyi asaba akwiye kuzihabwa, ikaba agomba kubitangira amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego, ariko akagenwa mu bushishozi bw’Urukiko kuko ayasabwe ari umurengera, bityo, Rwanda Trading Company Ltd ikaba igomba guha Bigirimana Robert 700.000 Frw akubiyemo 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [22] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Bigirimana Robert, bufite ishingiro. [23] Rwemeje ko urubanza RCOMA 00907/2019/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi ku wa 30/10/2020, ruhindutse.

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[24] Rutegetse Rwanda Trading Company Ltd kwishyura Bigirimana Robert 700.000 Frw akubiyemo 200.000 Frw y’ikurikiranarubanza na 500.000 Frw y’igihembo cy’Avoka kuri uru rwego. [25] Rutegetse Rwanda Trading Company Ltd kwishyura amagarama y’uru rubanza.