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Rwanda Criminal

High Court

BIZIMUBUSHINJACYAHA v. BIZIMUNGUUNGU

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The embezzlement charge against Bizimungu Boniface was time-barred as more than the statutory period had elapsed between the commission of the offense and prosecution. However, Bizimungu was found guilty of forgery and use of forged documents, as he admitted to signing for others without authority. The order to pay 3,000,000 RWF to RWIGEMA was set aside since RWIGEMA had already recovered his property.

Court disposition

Partially allowed appeal; conviction for embezzlement quashed, conviction for forgery upheld.

Orders

  • Bizimungu Boniface acquitted of embezzlement due to statute of limitations
  • Order to pay 3,000,000 RWF to RWIGEMA set aside
  • Conviction and sentence of one year imprisonment and 300,000 RWF fine for forgery upheld
  • Court costs to be borne by the state

02

Material facts

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution

Bizimungu Boniface

Appellant/accused

RWIGEMA Pierre Célestin

Complainant

Amounts and remedies

  • Imprisonment: years 1
  • Fine: RWF 300,000
  • Restitution Set Aside: RWF 3,000,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / High Court Appellate Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Bizimungu Boniface argued that the embezzlement charge was time-barred as the alleged offense occurred in 2003 and prosecution commenced in 2012. He also contended that he sold the property based on a valid procuration and requested that the order to pay 3,000,000 RWF to RWIGEMA be set aside due to a pending civil case.
Respondent
The prosecution argued that Bizimungu could not act on the property without co-managers' approval, that he admitted to the forgery during investigation, and that the embezzlement charge and restitution order should be reviewed by the court.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Article 3 and 4 of Law No 13/2004 of 17/5/2004 on criminal procedure

    A criminal prosecution is extinguished by the statute of limitations if not commenced within the prescribed period.

  2. 02

    Article 78 of Organic Law No 01/2012/OL of 02/5/2012 and Article 3 of Law on Evidence

    Forgery is committed when a person signs for another without authorization and performs acts or consents on their behalf.

  3. 03

    Findings of fact and Article 3 of Law No 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 on evidence

    Restitution is not required if the complainant has already recovered the property in question.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The embezzlement charge against Bizimungu Boniface was time-barred as more than the statutory period had elapsed between the commission of the offense and prosecution. However, Bizimungu was found guilty of forgery and use of forged documents, as he admitted to signing for others without authority. The order to pay 3,000,000 RWF to RWIGEMA was set aside since RWIGEMA had already recovered his property.

Court disposition

Partially allowed appeal; conviction for embezzlement quashed, conviction for forgery upheld.

  • Bizimungu Boniface acquitted of embezzlement due to statute of limitations
  • Order to pay 3,000,000 RWF to RWIGEMA set aside
  • Conviction and sentence of one year imprisonment and 300,000 RWF fine for forgery upheld
  • Court costs to be borne by the state

Source and reliance status

High Court · 28 March 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· 28 March 2014

RPA 0635/12/HC/KIG

BIZIMUBUSHINJACYAHA v. BIZIMUNGUUNGU

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2014-03-28 - Case/document no.: RPA 0635/12/HC/KIG - Collection: High Court

Text

Page 1

UBUSHINJACYAHA v.

BIZIMUNGU [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU – RPA 0635/12/HC/KIG (Uwamariya, P.J.,) 28 Werurwe 2014] Amategeko mpanabyaha – Ubuhemu – Ubuzime bw’ikurikiranacyaha. – Nta buryozwacyaha bubaho igihe habaye ubuzime bwacyo., Itegeko no 13/2004 ryo kuwa 17/5/2004 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, ingingo za 3 na 4 n’ Itegeko-teka n°21/77 ryo kuwa 18 kanama 1977 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, ingingo ya 19,421 Amategeko mpanabyaha – Inyandiko mpimbano – Usinya umuntu atamuhaye uburenganzira agakora ibyo uwo yasinyiye yagombaga gukora cyangwa kwemera ko bikorwa ni inyandiko mpimbano, Itegeko ngenga no 01/2012/OL ryo kuwa 02/5/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, 3 n’ n’ingingo ya 78,n’ Itegeko ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 3. Inshamake y’ikibazo: Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyarugenge rwahamije Bizimungu Boniface icyaha cy’ubuhemu, gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano rumuhanisha umwaka umwe n’ihazabu ingana n’amafaranga ibihumbi maganatatu (300 000Frw). Yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru avuga ko yagurishije akurikije procuration yahawe anasaba ko icyaha cy’ubuhemu

yemera

yagihanagurwaho

kuko

Page 2

yagikurikiranyweho cyarashaje. Yanasabye ko amafaranga 3.000.000 asabwa guha RWIGEMA yakurwaho kuko hari urundi rubanza ku kirego cy’indishyi bategereje kuburana. Ubushinjacyaha bwavuze ko ibyo uwajuriye avuga nta gaciro byahabwa kuko nta kintu yagomgbaga gukora ku mutungo yari yemerewe gucunga kuko byagombaga kubanza kwemezawa n’abo bafatanyije kuwucunga. Buvuga ko atahakana gukora inyandiko mpimbano kuko yiyemereye icyaha mw’ibazwa rye imbere mu Bugenzacyaha.. Inshamake y’icyemezo: Kuba icyaha gikomeye cyarakozwe ku itariki ya 9/10/2003 akagikurikiranwaho 2012

bivanaho

uburyozwacyaha

kuko yagikurikiranyweho

harabaye

ubuzime bw’ikurikiranacyaha. Kwemera gukora inyandiko mpimbano by’uwajuriye byahawe agaciro kuko yavuze ko mu kugurisha imitungo yari ashinzwe gucunga, abo byarebaga batasinye kuri procuration yashingiweho muri iryo gurisha. Ahubwo yasinye mu mwanya wabo binatuma ahamwa n’icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe. Uwajuriwe ntagomba gukurikiranwa ku cyaha cy’ubuhemu kuko habaye ubuzime bw’ikurikiranacyaha

Page 3

Icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano gihama uwajuriye, ahanishijwe igihano cy’umwaka umwe w’igifungo Amagarama aherereye ku isanduku ya Leta. Amategeko yashingiweho Itegeko ngenga no 01/2012/OL ryo kuwa 02/5/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, 3 n’ n’ingingo ya 78, 3o. Itegeko no 13/2004 ryo kuwa 17/5/2004 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, ingingo za 3 na 4. Itegeko n°15/2004 ryo kuwa 12/06/2004 ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, ingingo ya 3. Itegeko-teka n°21/77 ryo kuwa 18 kanama 1977 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana, ingingo ya 19,421 Nta manza zifashisgijwe Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Mu rubanza RP 1048/12/TGI/NYGE, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa NYARUGENGE rwahamije

Page 4

BIZIMUNGU Boniface icyaha cy’ubuhemu n’icyaha cyo gukora no gukoresha inyandiko mpimbano, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’umwaka umwe n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi magana atatu. BIZIMUNGU ntiyishimiye imikirize y’urubanza arujurira mu Rukiko Rukuru. Asobanura ko impamvu yatumye ajurira aruko ngo yagurishije akurikije procuration yahawe, amasezerano yemera akaba ari amasezerano y’ubugure akaba atemera amasezerano y’ubucuruzi bamurega kuko imodoka yagurishije yari yarapfuye yarasubije pulaki, akaba atari gukora amasezerano y’ubucuruzi imodoka itagikora. Arasaba ko icyaha cy’uhemu yemera yagihanagurwaho kuko yagikurikiranweho cyarashaje, agasaba ko amafaranga 3.000.000 asabwa guha RWIGEMA yakurwaho kuko hari urundi rubanza ku kire cy’indishyi bategereje kuburana. [2] Ubushinjacyaha bwiregura buvuga ko ibyo BIZIMUNGU avuga ko yagurishije akurikije procuration yahawe nta gaciro byahabwa kuko igikorwa cyose yagombaga gukora ku mutungo yari yemerewe gucunga byagombaga kwemezwa n’abo bafatanyije gucunga. Buvuga ko yahawe procuration ebyiri umunsi umwe. Buvuga ko ibyo guhakana inyandiko mpimbano nabyo nta gaciro byahabwa kuko abazwa mu bugenzacyaha yemeye icyaha avuga ko ayo mazeserano akorwa BENINKA Atari ahari ndetse na MUDENGE abazwa akaba yaravuze ko bamusanze kwa GAKUMBA bagasinyaho ari bane, BIZIMUNGU akavuga ko ari businyishe abandi bari kuri procuration. Ku kuba icyaha cy’ubuhemu cyarashaje kimwe n’amafaranga yategetswe

Page 5

gusubiza, ubushinjacyaha bwasabye ko urukiko rwazabisuzuma.  Ikigomba gusuzumwa muri uru rubanza, nukumenya

niba

icyaha

cy’ubuhemu BIZIMUNGU akurikiranweho cyarashaje, no kumenya niba adahamwa n’icyaha cyo guhimba inyandiko no kuyikoresha. II.

IBIBAZO BIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYABYO kumenya niba icyaha cy’ubuhemu BIZIMUNGU akurikiranweho cyarashaje [3] BIZIMUNGU avuga ko icyaha cy’ubuhemu akurikiranweho cyashaje kuko cyakozwe mu mwaka wa 2003, akaba asaba ko atagikurikiranwaho, bityo n’amafaranga angana na 3.000.000 urukiko rwamutegetse ko aha RWIGEMA Pierre Célestin akaba yakurwaho kuko hari urundi rubanza rw’indishyi bategereje kuburana. [4] Ubushinjacyaha bwiregura buvuga ko kuba iki cyaha cy’ubuhemu cyarashaje no kuba amafaranga 3.000.000 BIZIMUNGU yategetswe gusubiza RWIGEMA atatangwa urukiko rwabisuzuma. Ingingo ya 3 y’itegeko no 13/2004 ryo kuwa 17/5/2004 ryerekeye imiburanishirize

y’imanza

z’inshinjabyaha ryakurikizwaga mu gihe ubushinjacyaha bwari butangiye gukurikirana iki cyaha, mu gika cyayo cya mbere havugwa ko ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha kizima aruko

Page 6

uwakoze icyaha apfuye , mu gihe habaye ubusaze bw’icyaha, imbabazi z’itegeko, itegeko rivuyeho, cyangwa se mu gihe urubanza kuri icyo kirego ruciwe burundu; mu ngingo ya 4 y’iri tegeko hagateganywa ko ikirego cy’ikurikiranacyaha gisaza mu gihe cy’imyaka icumi ku cyaha cy’ubugome, mu gihe cy’imyaka itatu ku cyaha gikomeye, no mu gihe cy’umwaka umwe ku byaha bito. [5] Nkuko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 424 y’ itegeko- teka n°21/77 ryo kuwa 18 kanama 1977 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ryagenderwagaho igihe iki cyaha cyakorwaga, umuntu wagize uburiganya bwo kurigisa, cyangwa bwo gutagaguza yangiriza undi, impapuro zifite agaciro k'amafaranga, amafaranga, ibicuruzwa, inoti, za kitansi, inyandiko z'amoko yose zirimo cyangwa ziturukaho umwenda cyangwa ubwishyu kandi yarabiherewe ubukodeshe, ukubibika, uguhagararira, ukugwatira, ugutizwa, cyangwa umurimo ahemberwa cyangwa adahemberwa, ategetswe kuzabisubiza nyirabyo, cyangwa kubikoresha umulimo abwiwe, azahanishwa igifungo kuva ku mezi atatu kugera ku myaka itanu n'ihazabu y'amafaranga atarenga ibihumbi makumyabiri, cyangwa kimwe gusa muli ibyo bihano. Iki cyaha cy’ubuhemu BIZIMUNGU yakoze ni icyaha gikomeye kuko gihanishwa igifungo kitarengeje imyaka itanu1. Kuba icyaha BIZIMUNGU 1 1Ingingo ya 19 y’ itegeko-teka n°21/77 ryo kuwa 18 kanama 1977 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ivuga ko icyaha amategeko ahanisha igihano cy'iremezo cy'igifungo kirenze amezi abili, aliko kitarenze imyaka itanu, n'ihazabu y'amafaranga arenze ibihumbi bibiri, cyangwa kimwe muri ibyo bihano byombi, cyitwa icyaha

Page 7

akurikiranweho ari icyaha gikomeye akaba yaragikoze kuwa 09/10/2003 ariko akagikurikiranwaho mu mwaka wa 2012, urukiko rurasanga nta buryozwacyaha bukiriho kuko

yagikurikiranyweho

harabaye

ubuzime bw’ikurikiranacyaha. [6] Ku byerekeye amafaranga 3.0000.0000 BIZIMUNGU yategetswe gusubiza RWIGEMA Pierre Celestin, urukiko rurasanga RWIGEMA Pierre Célestin atayasubizwa kuko imodoka ye yari yagurishijwe yayisubijwe nkuko bigaragazwa n’inyandiko mvugo yakorewe mu bushinjacyaha ku rwego Rwisumbuye rwa GASABO kuwa 18/9/2012. kumenya niba BIZIMUNGU adahamwa n’icyaha cyo guhimba inyandiko no kuyikoresha. [7] Bizimungu avuga ko yagurishije ashingiye kuri procuration yari yahawe, amasezerano y’ubugure akaba ariyo yemera ariko amasezerano y’ubucuruzi akaba ari ntayo yakoze, akaba ataragombaga gukora amazeserano y’ubucuruzi kuko imodoka yari yarapfuye yarasubije pulaki, ahubwo MUDENGE baguze akaba ariwe waguriye iyo modoka shasi ayikomereza ku mazina ya RWIGEMA Pierre Célestin mu myaka yose yayitunze kugeza igihe RWIGEMA aziye. [8] Ubushinjacyaha bwiregura buvuga ko ibyo BIZIMUNGU avuga ko yagurishije imodoka ashingiye kuri procuration yari afite nta gaciro byahabwa kuko hari procuration ebyiri zaziye rimwe. Buvuga ko ibyo yagombaga gukora byose byagombaga kwemezwa n’abo gikomeye.

Page 8

bafatanyije gucunga umutungo wa RWIGEMA. Ibyo guhakana inyandiko mpimbano buvuga ko ayo masezerano y’ubucuruzi we ubwe mu ibazwa rye yayemeye, avuga ko yakorewe kwa GAKUMBA ndetse ko ntacyo yakoraga atamumenyesheje, ariko avuga ko atazi uwamusinyiye, buvuga kandi ko no mu mvugo za MUDENGE zigaragara kuri cote ya 14-15 avuga ko bamusanze kwa GAKUMBA bagasinyaho ari bane BIZIMUNGU akababwira ko ari businyishe abandi bari muri procuration yahawe na RWIGEMA. Burasaba rero ko icyemezo cyafashwe n’urukiko rwa mbere cyashimangirwa kuko yagabanyirijwe bihagije agahabwa n’igihano gito. [9] Ingingo ya ya 3 y’itegeko ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo ivugako buri muburanyi agomba kugaragaza ukuri kw’ibyo aburana. Urukiko rurasanga ibyo BIZIMUNGU ashingiraho ahakana ko atakoze icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano ngo anayikoreshe nta gaciro byahabwa kubera impamvu zikurikira -.kuko we ubwe abazwa mu bugenzacyaha kuwa 22/8/2012 yemeye ko ayomasezerano bayakoreye mu rugo kwa GAKUMBA Jean, abagabo bose bayariho bakaba barayasinyeho, kandi ngo akaba ari nta kintu yakoraga atamumenyesheje. Yemeye ko umukono ugaragara muri ayo masezerano ari uwe , ndetse n’imiterere y’ayo masezerano akaba yaravuze ko ariyo ariko ko icyo yibuka aruko ngo BENINKA atari ahari. Anavuga ko yemera ko yagurishije atabimenyesheje

Page 9

BENINKAJeacqueline ariko ngo akaba atumva neza umuntu wamusinyiye uwo ariwe - MUDENGE nawe abazwa mu bugenzacyaha yavuze ko iyo nyandiko y’amasezeranoimaze kwandikwa Boniface ariwe wayitwaye kuyisinyisha GAKUMBA na BENINKA, ngo akaba yarasinyiwe n’abo bandi. - Aburana mu Rukiko yemeye ko BENINKA na GAKUMBA batasinye, mu gusoza iburanisha avuga ko yemeye icyaha. [10] Urukiko rushingiye kuri ibi bimenyetso byatanzwe n’ubushinjacyaha ndetse n’ukwemera icyaha kwa Bizimungu imbere y’urukiko, birahagije mu kwemeza ko icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano BIZIMUNGU akurikiranweho yagikoze asinyira BENINKA na Gakumba, bityo kikaba kimuhama. [11] Ku byerekeye ibihano, urukiko rurasanga igifungo cy’umwaka umwe n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi magana atatu Bizimungu Boniface yari yahanishijwe aricyo kigomba kugumishwaho kuko hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 78, 3o y’itegeko ngenga no 01/2012/OL ryo kuwa 02/5/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana; kuba icyaha yakoze gihanishwa igifungo kiri hejuru y’imyaka itanu, mu kukigabanya kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha urukiko rukaba rutagomba kujya munsi y’umwaka umwe. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO

Page 10

[12] . Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa BIZIMUNGU Boniface bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe. [13] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RP 1048/12/TGI/NYGE rwajurirwe ihindutse kurI bimwe. [14] Rwemeje ko icyaha cy’ubuhemu BIZIMUNGU Boniface aregwa atagomba kugikurikiranwaho kuko habayeho ubuzime bw’ikurikiranacyaha. [15] 16. Rwemeje ko amafaranga angana na miliyoni eshatu z’amanyarwanda (3.000.000 frws) BIZIMUNGU yategetswe

gusubiza

RWIGEMA

atagomba kuyamusubiza kuko RWIGEMA yasubijwe imodoka ye yari yaragurishijwe. [16] 17. Rwemeje ko icyaha cy’inyandiko mpimbano gihama BIZIMUNGU Boniface, igihano cy’igifungo cy’umwaka umwe n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi magana atatu cyatanzwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa NYARUNGENGE kikaba kidahindutse. [17] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’urubanza aherezwa ku isanduku ya Leta kuko BIZIMUNGU afunzwe.

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Law No 13/2004 of 17/5/2004 on criminal procedure, Articles 3 and 4

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Organic Law No 01/2012/OL of 02/5/2012, Article 78

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law No 15/2004 of 12/06/2004 on evidence, Article 3

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Decree-Law No 21/77 of 18 August 1977, Articles 19, 421

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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