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Rwanda Criminal

Court of Appeal

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NIYONIZERA

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Professional case brief

Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The minimum sentence for defilement followed by cohabitation with a minor, where mitigating circumstances are established, is 15 years imprisonment. Since Niyonizera Antoine had already received this minimum sentence, further reduction is not legally permissible under the current law.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal of Niyonizera Antoine is dismissed as unfounded.
  • The judgment of the High Court, Rwamagana Chamber, sentencing Niyonizera Antoine to 15 years imprisonment is upheld.
  • Court costs are to be borne by the State as Niyonizera Antoine is incarcerated and exempt from payment.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution Counsel: Butera Oscar

Niyonizera Antoine

Appellant Counsel: Me Rugeyo Jean

Amounts and remedies

  • Sentence Imposed Years: 15

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Whether the sentence of 15 years imprisonment imposed on Niyonizera Antoine could be further reduced

Party arguments

Applicant
Niyonizera Antoine argued for further reduction of his 15-year sentence, citing his admission of guilt, request for forgiveness, good prior conduct, lack of intent to harm the victim, and the small age difference between him and the victim. He referenced previous case law where sentences were reduced under similar circumstances.
Respondent
The Prosecution argued that the sentence had already been sufficiently reduced in accordance with the law, that the cited case law was no longer applicable due to legislative changes, and that no legal error or new mitigating factor justified further reduction.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Article 4 of Law Nº69/2019 amending Article 133 of Law Nº68/2018; Article 2(a) of Law Nº59/2023

    Where an adult commits defilement followed by cohabitation with a minor, the penalty is life imprisonment, but if mitigating circumstances are established by the judge, the sentence may be reduced but not below 15 years imprisonment.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The minimum sentence for defilement followed by cohabitation with a minor, where mitigating circumstances are established, is 15 years imprisonment. Since Niyonizera Antoine had already received this minimum sentence, further reduction is not legally permissible under the current law.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

  • The appeal of Niyonizera Antoine is dismissed as unfounded.
  • The judgment of the High Court, Rwamagana Chamber, sentencing Niyonizera Antoine to 15 years imprisonment is upheld.
  • Court costs are to be borne by the State as Niyonizera Antoine is incarcerated and exempt from payment.

Source and reliance status

Court of Appeal · 24 January 2025

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

Court of Appeal

Criminal· 24 January 2025

RPAA 00037/2024/CA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NIYONIZERA

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2025-01-24 - Case/document no.: RPAA 00037/2024/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal

Text

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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NIYONIZERA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00037/2024/CA (Kanyange, P.J.) 24 Mutarama 2025] Amategeko agenga imanza z’inshinjabyaha – Gusambanya umwana – Gusambanya byakurikiwe no kubana nk’umugabo n’umugore – Kugabanya igihano iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha – igihano cyagabanywa ku buryo kitajya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Incamake y’ikibazo: Niyonizera Antoine yakurikiranyweho n’Ubushinjacyaha icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana bigakurikirwa no kubana nawe nk’umugore n’umugabo, bumuregera Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma busaba ko ahamwa n’icyaha agahanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko Niyonizera ahamwa n’icyaha rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 25. Niyonizera yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Rwamagana asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano yahawe kuko yaburanye ku rwego rwa mbere yemera icyaha kandi akaba akomeje kucyemera, ndetse nta ngaruka zikomeye icyaha cyateye, asaba kandi ko yasubikirwa ibihano. Urukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Rwamagana rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ko ubujurire bwe bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe, ko imikirize y’urubanza rwa mbere ihindutse ku birebana n’igihano yari yahanishijwe, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Niyonizera yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’ubujurire asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano cy’imyaka 15 yahawe. Ku rundi ruhande Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko Urukiko Rukuru

rwamugabanyirije igihano mu buryo buhagije rumuhanisha igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko, akaba atagaragaza inenge iri mu rubanza ajuririra. Incamake y’ikibazo: Icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana byakurikiwe no kubana nk’umugabo cyangwa umugore gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu, ariko haba habonetse impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza, igihano kikaba cyagabanywa ku buryo kitajya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº69/2019 ryo ku wa 08/11/2019 ihindura ingingo ya 133 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ingingo ya 4; Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, ingingo ya 2, (a). Nta manza zifashishijwe

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Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Niyonizera Antoine yasambanyije umwana w’umukobwa w’imyaka cumi n’irindwi (17) wiswe I.F mu manza za mbere bikurikirwa no kubana nk’umugabo n’umugore, bimenyekana bamaranye ibyumweru bibiri maze atangira gukurikiranwa n’inzego z’iperereza. [2] Iperereza rirangiye, Ubushinjacyaha bwamureze mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Ngoma icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana byakurikiwe no kubana nk’umugabo n’umugore, bumusabira guhanishwa igifungo cya burundu [3] Niyonizera Antoine yireguye avuga ko yemera icyaha, asobanura ko uwo mukobwa yamusanze mu ishyamba aho yari aragiye avuga ko agiye kwiyahura ngo kuko iwabo bamutoteza ko kandi atasubirayo, ahita afata icyemezo cyo kumugira umugore kuko bari basanzwe bakundana no kugira ngo arengere ubuzima bwe, ko kandi yamubajije imyaka akamubwira ko afite cumi n’umunani (18), asaba ko igihano yasabiwe cyagabanywa. [4] Urukiko rwaciye urubanza RP 01046/2020/TGI/NGOMA ku wa 11/12/2020, rusanga hari ibimenyetso byemeza ko Niyonizera Antoine yakoze icyaha akurikiranweho bigizwe no kuba nawe yaracyiyemereye, imvugo za I.F wavuze ko Niyonizera Antoine yari umugabo we babanaga, imvugo z’abatangabuhamya bemeje ko babanaga nk’umugabo n’umugore na raporo ya muganga igaragaza ko uwo mwana yatakaje akarangabusugi. Rwasanze ariko kuba yarakoze icyaha akiri muto byamubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, maze rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha cyo

gusambanya umwana, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25). [5] Niyonizera Antoine yajuriye mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano yahawe kuko yaburanye ku rwego rwa mbere yemera icyaha kandi akaba akomeje kucyemera, ko kandi nta ngaruka zikomeye cyateje kuko I.F yasubiye mu ishuri ndetse akaba ari bwo bwa mbere aguye mu cyaha, asaba kandi ko igihano yahabwa cyasubikwa. [6] Ubushinjacyaha bwasubije ko izo mpamvu z’ubujurire bwa Niyonizera Antoine zitahabwa agaciro, kuko yagabanyirijwe igihano mu buryo buhagije, ko n’igihano yahawe kitasubikwa. [7] Urukiko rwaciye urubanza RPA 00215/2021/HC/RWG ku wa 28/12/2023, rusanga nubwo Niyonizera Antoine yagabanyirijwe igihano ku rwego rwa mbere agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 25, cyakongera kikagabanywa hashingiwe ku kuba icyaha yakoze nta ngaruka zikomeye cyateje, rusanga kandi impamvu irebana no gusubikirwa igihano itasuzumwa kuko yatanzwe nyuma y’ibihe byemewe byo kujurira, rwemeza rero ko ubujurire bwe bufite ishingiro kuri bimwe, ko imikirize y’urubanza rwa mbere ihindutse ku birebana n’igihano yari yahanishijwe, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [8] Niyonizera Antoine yatanze ubujurire bwa kabiri mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RPAA 00037/2024/CA, ruhabwa itariki yo kuburanishwa yo ku wa 09/01/2025,

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uwo munsi ruburanishwa yunganiwe na Me Rugeyo Jean, Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Butera Oscar, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. [9] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire, Niyonizera Antoine n’umwunganira bavuga ko ubujurire bwe bugamije gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) yahawe. [10] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga iyo mpamvu y’ubujurire nta shingiro ifite, kuko Urukiko Rukuru rwamugabanyirije igihano mu buryo buhagije rumuhanisha igihano gito giteganywa n’itegeko, akaba atagaragaza inenge iri mu rubanza ajuririra. [11] Ikibazo kigomba gusuzumwa muri uru rubanza ni ukumenya niba igihano Niyonizera Antoine yahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa. II. ISESENGURA RY’IKIBAZO KIRI MU RUBANZA

Kumenya niba igihano Niyonizera Antoine yahanishijwe cyakongera kugabanywa. [12] Mu myanzuro y’ubujurire no mu miburanire, Niyonizera Antoine n’umwunganira bavuga ko ubujurire bwe bugamije gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) yahanishijwe agahabwa igihano gito gishoboka, kuko yemeye icyaha anasaba imbabazi, akaba yari asanzwe yitwara neza ko kandi atari agamije kugirira nabi I.F ndetse bakaba bari mu kigero kimwe kuko yari afite imyaka cumi n’umunani (18) naho uwo mukobwa afite cumi n’irindwi (17). [13] Mu kugabanya icyo gihano, Niyonizera Antoine avuga ko hakurikizwa imirongo iri mu manza zitandukanye, harimo urubanza RS/INCONST/SPEC 00003/2019/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 4/12/2019 haburana Kabasinga Florida na Leta y’u Rwanda, urubanza RPAA

00032/2019/CA Ubushinjacyaha bwaburanyemo na Nzafashwanimana Jean de Dieu rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’ubujurire ku wa 28/02/2020, n’urubanza RPAA 00550/2021/CA urwo Rukiko rwaciye ku wa 17/02/2023 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Habineza Frederic wagabanyirijwe igihano kikava ku myaka makumyabiri (20) kikagezwa ku myaka itanu (05), ko kandi iyo mirongo yakurikizwaga ubwo yajuriraga. [14] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko impamvu y’ubujurire bwa Niyonizera Antoine nta shingiro ifite kuko asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano ashingiye ku mpamvu yari yaratanze mbere kandi Umucamanza wo mu bujurire bwa mbere akaba yaramugabanyrije mu buryo bukwiye kandi bukurikije amategeko. [15] Avuga kandi ko imirongo yo mu manza Niyonizera avuga zaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga hamwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire itakurikizwa, kuko itegeko yari ishingiyeho ryahindutse nk’uko byatanzweho umurongo n’uru Rukiko, ko n’ibyo avuga ko yajuriye iyo mirongo igikurikizwa atari byo, kuko yajuriye mu kwezi kwa 01/2024 kandi itegeko rihindura iryo iyo mirongo yari ishingiyeho ryarasohotse mu kwezi kwa 12/2023, ko rero hagumaho imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe.

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UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [16] Impaka ziri muri uru rubanza zishingiye ku kumenya niba igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) Urukiko Rukuru rwahanishije Niyonizera Antoine cyakongera kugabanywa. [17] Ingingo ya 4 y’Itegeko Nº69/2019 ryo ku wa 08/11/2019 ihindura ingingo ya 133 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, mu gika cyayo cya gatandatu, iteganya ko iyo umuntu mukuru asambanyije umwana bigakurikirwa no kumugira umugabo cyangwa umugore, igihano kiba igifungo cya burundu kidashobora kugabanywa kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha. Iyi ngingo ariko igomba kureberwa hamwe n’ingingo ya 2, (a) y’Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, kuko ivuga ko iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15. [18] Izi ngingo zisomewe hamwe zumvikanisha ko icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana byakurikiwe no kubana nk’umugabo cyangwa umugore gihanishwa igifungo cya burundu, ariko haba habonetse impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza, igihano kikaba cyagabanywa ku buryo kitajya munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [19] Imikirize y’urubanza Niyonizera Antoine yajuririye igaragaza ko Urukiko Rukuru rwamugabanyirije igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25) yari yahanishijwe

ku rwego rwa mbere, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) rushingiye ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha rwagaragaje. [20] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rurasanga harebwe uburyo ibihano bishobora kugabanywa iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, hakanarebwa igihano cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) Niyonizera Antoine yahanishijwe nyuma yo kumugabanyiriza, ibyo asaba ko icyo gihano cyakongera kikagabanywa bitashoboka kuko yagabanyirijwe igihano mu buryo buhagije kandi bukurikije ibyo Itegeko riteganya, icyo yahawe kandi kikaba ari cyo gito gishobora gutangwa hakurijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 2 y’itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 ryavuzwe haruguru. [21] Urukiko rurasanga kandi imirongo yo mu manza Niyonizera Antoine yagaragaje mu mwanzuro we itashingirwaho, kuko yari ishingiye ku Itegeko ryahinduwe nk’uko byasobanuwe n’uru Rukiko mu rubanza RPAA 00048/2020/CA rwaciwe ku wa 26/05/2022 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Bimenyimana Jean Paul, n’ibyo avuga ko ajurira iyo mirongo yari igikurikizwa, usibye kuba bitahindura ibyemejwe mu rubanza rumaze kuvugwa, binagaragara ko ubwo yajuriraga itegeko iyo mirongo yari ishingiyeho ryari ryarahindutse. [22] Hashingiwe ku bimaze gusobanurwa, Urukiko rurasanga igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) Niyonizera Antoine yahanishijwe kitakongera kugabanywa, bityo hakaba hagumyeho imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe.

III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO

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[23] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Niyonizera Antoine nta shingiro bufite; [24] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA 00215/2021/HC/RWG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana ku wa 28/12/2023, rwamuhanishije igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15), idahindutse; [25] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’urubanza aherereye ku isanduku ya Leta, kuko Niyonizera Antoine afunze, akaba asonewe kuyatanga.

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Law Nº69/2019 of 08/11/2019 amending Article 133 of Law Nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 on offences and penalties, Article 4

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law Nº59/2023 of 04/12/2023 amending Law Nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 on offences and penalties, Article 2(a)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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