UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HABYARIMANA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. HABYARIMANA

The Court of Appeal held that the second appeal was inadmissible because the lower courts did not apply a law that was not in force at the time of the offence. The issue raised by the appellant concerned non-compliance with legal provisions, which is not a valid ground for a second appeal under Rwandan law. The...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RPAA/ECON 00003/2022/CA
Parties
Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Appellant: Habyarimana Athanase
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
28 March 2025
Case Number
RPAA/ECON 00003/2022/CA
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Second Appeal (court of Appeal)
Outcome
Second appeal dismissed as inadmissible
Legal Topics
Embezzlement, Application of Repealed Law, Double Jeopardy in Appeals, Statutory Interpretation
Source Language
rw
Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Embezzlement Application of Repealed Law Double Jeopardy in Appeals Statutory Interpretation

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 6 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 3
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution

Habyarimana Athanase

Appellant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Second Appeal (court of Appeal)

  1. 1 Whether the second appeal by Habyarimana Athanase is admissible under Rwandan law
  2. 2 Whether the lower courts applied a law that was not in force at the time of the alleged offence
  3. 3 Whether non-compliance with legal provisions constitutes grounds for a second appeal

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that the second appeal was inadmissible because the lower courts did not apply a law that was not in force at the time of the offence. The issue raised by the appellant concerned non-compliance with legal provisions, which is not a valid ground for a second appeal under Rwandan law. The correct law (Organic Law No. 01/2012/OL, Article 325) was applied, and any procedural errors do not justify a second appeal.

Court Disposition

Second appeal dismissed as inadmissible

Orders

  • Objection by the Prosecution upheld
  • Second appeal by Habyarimana Athanase not admitted