Rwanda Criminal

Supreme Court

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MBUGUJE

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Professional case brief

Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The Supreme Court held that since Mbuguje Innocent admitted guilt unequivocally at the Supreme Court and had previously admitted the offence during investigation, he was entitled to a reduced sentence under Article 35 of Law No. 30/2013 and the mitigating circumstances provided in Articles 76 and 78 of the Penal Code.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed; sentence reduced.

Orders

  • Mbuguje Innocent is sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of RWF 100,000.
  • Court costs to be borne by the State.
  • The previous judgment is modified.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution Counsel: Mutangana Jean Bosco

Mbuguje Innocent

Appellant Counsel: Me Umulisa Kayigamba Alice

Amounts and remedies

  • Initial Imprisonment Sentence (years): 20
  • Initial Fine (rwf): RWF 100,000
  • Reduced Imprisonment Sentence (years): 15
  • Reduced Fine (rwf): RWF 100,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Supreme Court Final Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Whether the appellant should receive a reduced sentence for admitting guilt and seeking forgiveness at the Supreme Court stage.

Party arguments

Applicant
Mbuguje Innocent argued that he admitted the offence and sought forgiveness, explaining that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offence and that he had previously denied the offence due to bad advice. He also claimed procedural unfairness regarding the consideration of exculpatory evidence and access to the case file.
Respondent
The prosecution argued that the offence warranted a life sentence under the law, that the appellant only admitted guilt after three years and under advice, and that this late admission should be scrutinized carefully.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Article 35, Law No. 30/2013 of 24/05/2013 on criminal procedure

    Mitigation of sentence is permitted when the accused admits guilt and seeks forgiveness, regardless of the stage of proceedings, as per Article 35 of Law No. 30/2013.

  2. 02

    Article 765, New Penal Code (Organic Law No. 01/2012 of 02/05/2012)

    The applicable law for sentencing is the one providing the lesser penalty when multiple laws are relevant.

  3. 03

    Articles 33, 34, Law No. 27/2001; Article 192, Organic Law No. 01/2012

    Sexual offences against minors by guardians attract aggravated penalties.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The Supreme Court held that since Mbuguje Innocent admitted guilt unequivocally at the Supreme Court and had previously admitted the offence during investigation, he was entitled to a reduced sentence under Article 35 of Law No. 30/2013 and the mitigating circumstances provided in Articles 76 and 78 of the Penal Code.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed; sentence reduced.

  • Mbuguje Innocent is sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of RWF 100,000.
  • Court costs to be borne by the State.
  • The previous judgment is modified.

Source and reliance status

Supreme Court · 27 December 2013

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Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Supreme Court

Criminal· 27 December 2013

RPAA 0079/10/CS

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MBUGUJE

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2013-12-27 - Case/document no.: RPAA 0079/10/CS - Collection: Supreme Court

Text

Page 1

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MBUGUJE [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RPAA 0079/10/CS (Mugenzi, P.J., Gatete na Munyangeri, J.) 27 Ukuboza 2013] Amategeko yerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza mpanabyaha – Kwemera icyaha mu bujurire.– Kugabanyirizwa igihano – Itegeko Nº 30/2013ryo kuwa 24/05/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, Ingingo ya 35 Incamake y’ikibazo: Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rusizi rwahamije Mbuguje Innocent icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana w’imyaka 16 rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 20 n’ihazabu ingana na 100 000 Frw. Yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru Urugereko ra Rusizi narwo rwemeza urubanza rwabanjije. Yajuririye u Rukiko rw’Ikirenga avuga ko umwana umushinja yanditse ibaruwa amushinjura avuga ko yagambaniwe na nyina w’umwana akaba n’umugore we akaba kandi yarimwe ijambo n’urukiko ndetse n’iyo baruwa ntihabwe agaciro. Yongeyeho ko yagiye asaba gusoma dosiye ariko inkiko zabanje zirabimwangira. Ariko rero, iburanisha ritangiye yavuze ko noneho yemera icyaha anasaba imbabazi. Ubushinjacyaha bwavuze bwo ko kwemera ictyaha nyuma y’imyaka 3 agiriwe inama, urukiko rwabisuzumana ubushishozi.

Page 2

Incamake y’icyemezo: N’ubwo yahakanye icyaha mu Rukiko Rukuru yacyemeye mu bugenzacyaha anacyemera mu buryo budashidikanywahono mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga. Bityo, hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 35 y’Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo kuwa 24/05/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, n’ingingo za 76 na 78 z’igitabo gishya cy’amategeko ahana ziteganyaimpamvu

nyoroshyacyaha,

akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano. Ubujurire bufite ishingiro. Ahanishjwe igifungo cy’imyaka 10 na 100 000 y’ihazabu. Amagarama y’urubanza aherereye ku isanduu ya leta. Urubanza rujuririrwa rurahindutse. Amategeko yashingiweho Itegeko nº 27/2001 ryo kuwa 28/04/2001 ryerekeyeuburenganzira bw’umwana n’uburyo bwo kumurinda ihohoterwa, ingingo za 33 na 34. ItegekoNgenga nº 01/2012 ryo kuwa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho amategeko ahana, ingingo ya 76, 78, 192, 765. Itegeko Nº 30/2013ryo kuwa 24/05/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, Ingingo ya 35 Nta manza zifashishijwe.

Page 3

I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA. [1] Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Rusizi rwahamije MBUGUJE Innocent icyaha yarezwe cyo gusambanya umwana w’imyaka 16 y’amavuko witwa BIHOYIKI Jeannette, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 20 n’ihazabu ya rwf 100.000. [2] Mbuguje yajuririye Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rusizi, rutegeka ko imikirize y’Urukiko Rwisumbuye

idahindutse,

rushingiye

ku mvugoz’abatangabuhamya barimo umugore we wavuze ko yamufatiye mu cyuho, imvugo y’ umwana ubwe wemeje ko yasambanyijwe, ukwemera icyaha kwe mu Bushinjacyaha ndetse n’icyemezo cya muganga. [3] Mbuguje yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ikirenga, avuga ko BIHOYIKI umurega yanditse ibaruwa imushinjura agaragaza uburyo yagambaniwe na nyina w’uyu mwana ariwe mugore we, akimwa ijambo mu Rukiko ndetse n’iyo baruwa ye ntihabwe agaciro. Avuga kandi ko yasabye gusoma dosiye ariko inkiko zamuburanishije zose ntizabimwemerera. [4] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame kuwa 02/12/2013, Mbuguje Innocent yunganirwa na Me Umulisa

Kayigamba

Alice,

Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Mutangana Jean Bosco, ahawe ijambo avuga ko imyanzuro y’ubujurire yari yatanze iteshwa agaciro, akaba yemera icyaha akagisabira imbabazi, anasaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano.

Page 4

II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA. Muri uru rubanza harasuzumwa ikibazo cyo kumenya niba Mbuguje Innocent akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yemera icyaha akagisabira n’imbabazi. [5] Mbuguje asobanura ko yajyanye umwana Bihoyiki Jeannette mu cyumba akamusambanya, umugore we amufatira mu cyuho agahita ajya guhuruza agafatwa agafungwa, akagenda ahakana icyaha kugeza mu Rukiko Rukuru, ariko ubu akaba acyemera akagisabira imbabazi, ashimangira ko yabitewe n’inzoga yari yanyoye. Ku byerekeye ibaruwa umwana yanditse amushinjura, avuga ko ibyo umwana yabikoranye na nyina atabigizemo uruhare. [6] Avoka umwunganira asobanura ko yemera noneho icyaha ku buryo budashidikanywaho, agasobanura n’uburyo cyakozwe, ku bw’izo mpamvu akaba akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano nkuko ingingo ya 35 y’Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo kuwa 24/05/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha ibiteganya, kuko nta gihe ntarengwa itegeko riteganya kugirango ushinjwa yemere icyaha. Asobanura ko uwo yunganira yakoze kiriya cyaha kubera ibyo yari yanyoye, ko kandi atari uko yari asanzwe. Avuga ko uwo yunganira yari yemeye icyaha mu Bugenzacyaha no mu Bushinjacyaha, agashukwa n’abamugiriye inama mbi ageze muri Gereza.

Page 5

[7] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko hakurikijwe ingingo ya 191 y’igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ibyaha ubundi MBUGUJE yari guhanishwa igifungo cya burundu cy’umwihariko. Yibukije na none ko ingingo ya 33 n’iya 34 y’Itegeko nº 27/2001 ryo kuwa 28/04/2001 ryerekeye uburenganzira bw’umwana n’uburyo bwo kumurinda ihohoterwa yateganyaga igifungo cya burundu, kandi ko igihano Ubushinjacyaha bwamusabiye ari cyo Urukiko rwemeje hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 765 y’igitabo gishya cy’amategeko ahana ibyaha. Avuga ko kuba hashize imyaka 3 MBUGUJE atanze imyanzuro ye, akaba ayitesheje agaciro aruko agiriwe inama, bikwiye gusuzumanwa ubushishozi. [8] Urukiko rusanga icyaha yakoze cyarahanishwaga igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu hashingiwe ku biteganywa n’ingingo ya 33 n’iya 34 z’Itegeko nº 27/2001 ryo kuwa 28/04/2001 ryerekeye uburenganzira bw’umwana n’uburyo bwo kumurinda ihohoterwa, ndetse n’ingingo ya 192 y’Itegeko Ngenga nº 01/2012 ryo kuwa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho amategeko ahana iteganya igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu cy’umwihariko n’ihazabu kuva ku bihumbi ijana (rwf 100.000) kugeza ku bihumbi magana atanu (rwf 500.000) iyo icyaha cyakozwe n’ushinzwe kurera umwana, akaba rero agomba guhanwa hakurikijwe iryo tegeko rya mbere kuko ari ryo riteganya igihano cyoroheje, hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 765 y’Igitabo gishya cy’amategeko ahana.

Page 6

[9] Urukiko rusanga kandi nubwo MBUGUJE yari yahakanye icyaha mu Rukiko Rukuru, yari yacyemeye ku ikubitiro mu Bugenzacyaha, n’ubu akaba acyemera akagisabira imbabazi ku buryo budashidikanywaho, akaba ariyo mpamvu hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 35 y’Itegeko nº 30/2013 ryo kuwa 24/05/2013 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, n’ingingo za 76 na 78 z’igitabo gishya cy’amategeko ahana ziteganya impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano, agahabwa igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi ijana (rwf 100.000). III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO. [10] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Mbuguje Innocent bufite ishingiro; [11] Ruhanishije Mbuguje Innocent igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi ijana (rwf 100.000); [12] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’urubanza aherera ku isanduku ya Leta. [13] Ruvuze ko imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe RPA 0222/08/HC/RSZ ihindutse.

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Law No. 27/2001 of 28/04/2001 on the rights and protection of the child, Articles 33, 34

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Organic Law No. 01/2012 of 02/05/2012 establishing the Penal Code, Articles 76, 78, 192, 765

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law No. 30/2013 of 24/05/2013 on criminal procedure, Article 35

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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