SETRAPCO v. BARBARA A. STIEFEL FOUNDATION
- Citation
- RLR V.1 - 2015
- Status
- Commercial
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Decision
- 4 April 2014
- Posture
- Commercial Appeal / Supreme Court Judgment on Admissibility of Appeal
- Case number
- RCOMA 0153/12/CS
More details
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Decision
- 4 April 2014
- Posture
- Commercial Appeal / Supreme Court Judgment on Admissibility of Appeal
- Case number
- RCOMA 0153/12/CS
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The appeal by SETRAPCO Ltd was not admissible because it sued Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation represented by individuals (Penny Ensley and Stephen Rwamurangwa) who lacked legal authority to represent the Foundation in court. Only Barbara A. Stiefel had such authority. The lack of proper legal standing is a ground for non-receivability and can be raised at any stage, including by the court itself.
Court disposition
Appeal not admitted (non-receivable)
Orders
- Objection to standing upheld
- Appeal by SETRAPCO Ltd not admitted
- SETRAPCO Ltd ordered to pay court costs of 35,250 Frw within eight days, failing which the amount will be forcibly recovered by the State
02
Material facts
Parties
SETRAPCO Ltd
Applicant Counsel: Ritararenga Didas, Me Ngirumpetse JMVBarbara A. Stiefel Foundation
Respondent Counsel: Me Niyondora NsengiyumvaAmounts and remedies
- Claimed Outstanding Payment: Frw 29,908,359
- Court Costs Awarded: Frw 35,250
- Original Contract Value: Frw 129,670,559
03
Procedural history
Posture
Commercial Appeal / Supreme Court Judgment on Admissibility of Appeal
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether SETRAPCO's appeal is admissible given the alleged lack of legal standing of the persons representing the respondent in the original suit
- 02
Whether the claim was properly brought against the correct legal representative of Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation
Party arguments
- Applicant
- SETRAPCO argued that the objection to admissibility was unfounded because Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation did not raise it in its initial defense submissions or during the pre-trial conference. SETRAPCO also claimed that Rwamurangwa Steven and Penny Ensley were authorized to represent Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation based on their signatures on the construction contract and a letter from Barbara A. Stiefel.
- Respondent
- Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation argued that SETRAPCO's appeal should not be admitted because the suit was brought against the Foundation represented by Rwamurangwa Steven and Penny Ensley, who lacked legal authority to represent the Foundation in court. Only Barbara A. Stiefel herself had such authority, as previously determined by the Supreme Court. The respondent also argued that the contract required mediation before litigation.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Article 142, Law n° 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 on civil, commercial, labor and administrative procedure
A claim is only admissible if both claimant and respondent have legal standing; lack of standing is a ground for non-receivability and can be raised at any stage, even by the court ex officio.
- 02
Article 31(5), Law n° 21/2012 of 14/06/2012 on civil, commercial, labor and administrative procedure
Legal entities must be sued in the name of their legal representatives; failure to do so renders the claim inadmissible.
- 03
SERGE GUINCHARD, Droit et Pratique de la Procédure Civile, 5th Edition, Dalloz, Paris, 2006-2007, p. 22
The quality (standing) of parties is a condition for the existence of an action; lack thereof leads to non-receivability.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The appeal by SETRAPCO Ltd was not admissible because it sued Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation represented by individuals (Penny Ensley and Stephen Rwamurangwa) who lacked legal authority to represent the Foundation in court. Only Barbara A. Stiefel had such authority. The lack of proper legal standing is a ground for non-receivability and can be raised at any stage, including by the court itself.
Obiter and limits
- The objection to standing is a matter of public order and must be examined at any stage of proceedings.
- The contract required parties to attempt mediation before litigation, but this was not determinative in this decision.
Court disposition
Appeal not admitted (non-receivable)
- Objection to standing upheld
- Appeal by SETRAPCO Ltd not admitted
- SETRAPCO Ltd ordered to pay court costs of 35,250 Frw within eight days, failing which the amount will be forcibly recovered by the State
Source and reliance status
Supreme Court · 4 April 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.
Supreme Court
Commercial· 4 April 2014
SETRAPCO v. BARBARA A. STIEFEL FOUNDATION
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2014-04-04 - Case/document no.: RCOMA 0153/12/CS - Collection: Supreme Court
Text
Page 1
SETRAPCO v. BARBARA A. STIEFEL FOUNDATION [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RCOMA 0153/12/CS (KAYITESI, P.J., RUGABIRWA na MUKANDAMAGE, J.) 04 Mata 2014] Amategeko y’imbonezamubano – Kutagira ububasha bw’uregwa – Inzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’uregwa ni indemyagihugu, iba igomba gusuzumwa aho urubanza rwaba rugeze hose; muri icyo gihe irakirwa kandi igasuzumwa – Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, Ingingo ya 142. Amategeko y’imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Ububasha bw’urega n’uregwa mu isuzuma ry’iyakirwa ry’ikirego – Kugira ngo ikirego cyakirwe ni uko urega n’uregwa bagomba kuba bafite ububasha, ko mu gihe batabufite, ikirego cyabo nticyakirwa. Amategeko y’imiburanishirize y’imanza z’ubucuruzi – Itumizwa ry’ibigo, sosiyete, n’imiryango bitari ibya Leta bifite ubuzima gatozi – Iyakirwa ry’ikirego iyo harezwe udahagarariye société mu buryo bukurikije amategeko – Iyo ariwe warezwe mu rubanza ntibyahabwa ishingiro ngo cyakirwe kuko uwo muryango uba ugomba kuregwa mu izina ry’uwuhagarariye, Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi. Ingingo ya 31, agace ka 5°. Incamake y’ikibazo: SETRAPCO yagiranye amasezerano na Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yo gucumbikiramo abanyeshuri mu gihe cy’iminsi 180 .
ku giciro kingana na 129.670.559 Frw. SETRAPCO yaregeye Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi asaba kwishyurwa 29.908.359 Frw asigaye yiyongereyeho indishyi zinyuranye kuko yarangije kubaka. Mu iburanisha Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yatanze inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cya SETRAPCO avuga ko amasezerano ishingiraho isaba indishyi yasheshwe n’urubanza RCOM 0210/11/HCC rwaciwe 29/11/2011. Urukiko rwemeje ko ikirego cya SETRAPCO cyitakiriwe kuko itakongera gusaba indishyi ishingiye ku masezerano yasheshwe n’urubanza rwavuzwe. SETRAPCO yajuririye Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ariko iburanisha ritangiye Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation itanga inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cya SETRAPCO kuko yayireze ihagarariwe na Rwamuranga Steven na Penny Enseley, nyamara badafite ububasha bwo kuyihagararira mu nkiko, ko ahubwo bufitwe na Barbara A. Stiefel, ko kandi SETRAPCO yahise imurega nyamara ingingo ya 13 y’amasezerano bagiranye iteganya ko mu gihe batumvikanye mu ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryayo, impande zombi zizabanza kwiyambaza abahuza, bananirwa kubumvikanisha akaba aribwo utishimye ashobora kuregera Urukiko rubifitiye ububasha. SETRAPCO yo ivuga ko iyo nzitizi nta shingiro ifite kubera ko Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation itayitanze mu myanzuro yayo yo kwiregura no mu gihe cy’inama ntegura rubanza. SETRAPCO yasabye ko Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yayishyura 29.908.359 Frw asigaye akiyongeraho indishyi n’inyungu zinyuranye kuko yarangije kubaka naho Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation nawe mubujurire bwuririye ku bundi agasaba ko uwajuirye ariwe wamuha indishyi kuko atubahirije amasezerano bagira nye.
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Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Impamvu ituma ikirego kitakirwa ishobora kubyutswa n’umuburanyi cyangwa n’Urukiko rubyibwirije. Impamvu zituma ikirego kitakirwa zigaragazwa n’urukiko rubyibwirije iyo ari indemyagihugu, nko kurenza igihe cyo kujurira cyangwa kutagira ububasha, ubushobozi cyangwa inyungu byo kurega. Kuba inzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’uregwa ari indemyagihugu igomba gusuzumwa aho urubanza rwaba rugeze hose, bityo ikaba igomba kwakirwa igasuzumwa.
2. Abahagarariye ibigo, sosiyete, n’imiryango bitari ibya Leta bifite ubuzima gatozi bitumirwa mu izina ry’abayihagarariye. Kuba uwajuriye avuga ko Penny Ensley na Stephen Rwamurangwa bahawe ububasha na Barbara A. Stiefel bwo guhagararira Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu Nkiko nta shingiro bifite, kuko inyandiko yo kuwa 19/08/2010 igaragaza ko Barbara A. Stiefel yabahaye inshingano zo kwemeza ko imirimo yakozwe n’inyemezabuguzi (factures).
3. Ikirego cyakirwa ari uko urega n’uregwa bagomba kuba bafite ububasha, ko mu gihe batabufite, ikirego nticyakirwa. Bityo ubujurire bw’uwajuriye butagomba kwakirwa kuko yareze uregwa ahagarariwe na Penny Ensley na Stephen Rwamurangwa, kandi nta bubasha bafite bwo kumuhagararira mu Nkiko. Inzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’uregwa ifite ishingiro. Ubujurire ntibwakiriwe. Amagarama aherereye ku uwajuriye. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, Ingingo ya 31 agace ka 5 n’iya 142. Nta manza zifashishijwe Inyandiko z’abahanga zifashishijwe: SERGE GUINCHARD, Droit et Pratique de la Procédure Civile, 5 ème Edition, Dalloz, Paris, 2006-2007, p.
22. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Kuwa 19/08/2010, Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation ihagarariwe na Barbara A. Stiefel na SETRAPCO Ltd bagiranye amasezerano y’ubwubatsi bw’inzu yo gucumbikiramo abanyeshuri ba « Kayonza Modern Secondary School » iri mu Karere ka Kayonza, mu Ntara y’Iburasirazuba, bumvikana ko iyo mirimo izakorwa mu gihe cy’iminsi 180 ku giciro kingana na 129.670.559 Frw. [2] Nyuma yaho, SETRAPCO Ltd yareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuri nº RCOM 0291/11/HCC, isaba ko yayishyura 29.908.359 Frw asigaye yiyongereyeho indishyi zinyuranye kuko yarangije kubaka inyubako yavuzwe haruguru.
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[3] Igihe cy’iburanisha ry’urubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, uburanira Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yatanze inzitizi yo kutakira ikirego cya SETRAPCO Ltd kubera ko amasezerano yo kuwa 19/08/2010 ishingiraho isaba indishyi yasheshwe n’urubanza RCOM 0210/11/HCC rwaciwe n’urwo Rukiko kuwa 29/11/2011, Urukiko rwemeza ko ikirego cya SETRAPCO Ltd kitakiriwe kuko itakongera gusaba indishyi zishingiye ku masezerano yasheshwe n’urubanza RCOM 0210/11/HCC yajuririye mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga. [4] SETRAPCO Ltd yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga kuri n° RCOMA 0153/12/CS, ruhuzwa n’urubanza RC0MA 0010/12/CS kuko zifitanye isano. [5] Kuwa 31/01/2014, Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwaciye urubanza RCOMA 0010/12/CS - RCOMA 0153/12/CS, rutegeka ko imikirize y’urubanza RCOM 0210/11/HCC rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi kuwa 29/11/2011 ivanyweho kubera ko Barbara A. Stiefel yaregeye iseswa ry’amasezerano yavuzwe haruguru ku giti cye, nyamara yaragombaga kuyaregera ahagarariye Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation, rutegeka kandi ko iburanisha ry’urubanza RCOMA 0153/12/CS hagati ya Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation na SETRAPCO LTD rizakomeza kuwa 18/03/2014. [6] Kuri uwo munsi, urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame SETRAPCO Ltd ihagarariwe na Ritararenga Didas, Umuyobozi Mukuru wayo, yunganiwe na Me Ngirumpetse JMV, naho Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation ihagarariwe na Me Niyondora Nsengiyumva. [7] Iburanisha
ry’urubanza ritangiye, uburanira Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yatanze inzitizi zigamije kutakira ubujurire bwa SETRAPCO Ltd kubera ko yareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation ihagarariwe na Rwamuranga Steven na Penny Enseley, nyamara badafite ububasha bwo kuyihagararira mu nkiko, ko ahubwo bufitwe na Barbara A. Stiefel, ko kandi SETRAPCO Ltd yahise iyirega mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, nyamara ingingo ya 13 y’amasezerano bagiranye iteganya ko mu gihe batumvikanye mu ishyirwa mu bikorwa ryayo, impande zombi zizabanza kwiyambaza abahuza, bananirwa kubumvikanisha akaba aribwo utishimye ashobora kuregera Urukiko rubifitiye ububasha. [8] Ku birebana n’urubanza mu mizi, SETRAPCO Ltd isaba ko Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yayishyura 29.908.359 Frw asigaye akiyongeraho indishyi n’inyungu zinyuranye kuko yarangije kubaka ishuri ryavuzwe haruguru, byaba ngombwa, akishyurwa n’Akarere ka Kayonza kuko ariko karikoresha. Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yo ikavuga ko itakwishyura SETRAPCO Ltd izo ndishyi kuko itubahirije amasezerano bagiranye, ko ahubwo ariyo ikwiye kuyiha indishyi yasabiye mu bujurire bwayo bwuririye ku bundi nk’uko zisobanuye mu mwanzuro yatanze.
II. IKIBAZO KIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYACYO: Inzitizi yo kutakira ubujurire bwa SETRAPCO Ltd kuko yareze abo itagombaga kurega (défaut de qualité des défendeurs). [9] Uburanira Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation avuga ko ubujurire bwa SETRAPCO butakwakirwa kuko yareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu izina rya Rwamurangwa Steven na
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Penny Ensley nk’uko bigaragazwa n’imyanzuro yatanze mu rwego rwa mbere, nyamara badafite ububasha bwo kuyihagararira mu Rukiko, ko ahubwo yagombaga kurega Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation ihagarariwe na Barbara A. Stiefel kuko ariwe ufite ububasha bwo kuyihagararira nk’uko byemejwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza n° RCOMA 0010/12/CS - RCOMA 0153/12/CS rwaciwe kuwa 31/01/2014, ko rero ubujurire bwayo butujuje ibisabwa n’ingingo ya 2 y’Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, kugira ngo bwakirwe. [10] Avuga kandi ko kuba SETRAPCO yarareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu izina ry’abatayihagarariye mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, byatumye ihamagazwa mu buryo bunyuranyije n’ingingo ya 31, agace ka 5° y’Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryavuzwe haruguru, iteganya ko imiryango itegamiye kuri Leta ifite ubuzima gatozi ihamagazwa mu izina ry’abayihagarariye. [11] Asobanura ko Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation yari yaratanze iyo nzitizi mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, ariko ko rutayisuzumye kubera ko rutakiriye ikirego cya SETRAPCO kubera ko rwasanze itaragombaga kongera kururegera amasezerano yasheshwe n’urubanza RCOM 0210/11/HCC, ko rero uru Rukiko rwasuzuma iyi nzitizi, rukemeza ko ifite ishingiro. [12] Uburanira SETRAPCO avuga ko iyo nzitizi nta shingiro ifite kubera ko Barbara A. Stiefel
Foundation itayitanze mu myanzuro yayo yo kwiregura yo kuwa 15/03/2013 no mu Nama ntegurarubanza yo kuwa 28/03/2013. [13] Avuga kandi ko SETRAPCO yareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko kubera ko Rwamurangwa Steven na Penny Ensley basinye ku masezerano y’ubwubatsi yo kuwa 19/08/2010, ko kandi Barbara A. Stiefel yabahaye ububasha bwo guhagararira Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation hashingiwe ku ibaruwa ye yo kuwa 19/08/2010.
UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA a. Ku birebana n’iyakirwa ry’inzitizi [14] Ingingo ya 142 y’Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko “Impamvu ituma ikirego kitakirwa ishobora kubyutswa n’umuburanyi cyangwa n’urukiko rubyibwirije. Impamvu zituma ikirego kitakirwa zigaragazwa n’urukiko rubyibwirije iyo ari indemyagihugu, nko kurenza igihe cyo kujurira cyangwa kutagira ububasha, ubushobozi cyangwa inyungu byo kurega”. [15] N’ubwo iyi nzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’uregwa itasuzumwe mu rwego rwa mbere, Urukiko rurasanga ari ndemyagihugu ikaba igomba gusuzumwa aho urubanza rwaba rugeze hose, bityo ikaba igomba kwakirwa igasuzumwa. b. Ku birebana n’ishingiro ry’inzitizi [16] Ingingo ya 31, agace ka 5° y’Itegeko n° 21/2012 ryo kuwa 14/06/2012 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi,
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iteganya ko “abahagarariye ibigo, sosiyete, n’imiryango bitari ibya Leta bifite ubuzima gatozi bitumirwa mu izina ry’abayihagarariye”. [17] Abahanga mu mategeko barimo Serge Guinchard bavuga ko kugira ngo “ikirego cyakirwe ari uko urega n’uregwa bagomba kuba bafite ububasha (qualité), ko mu gihe batabufite, ikirego nticyakirwa”1. [18] Inyandiko itanga ikirego yo kuwa 28/11/2011 mu Rukiko Rukuru rw’Ubucuruzi, igaragaza ko SETRAPCO Ltd “yareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation, mu izina ry’abayihagarariye mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, aribo Penny Ensley na Stephen Rwamurangwa”, isaba ko yayiha 29.908.359 Frw asigaye itayishyuye nyuma yo kurangiza imirimo y’ubwubatsi yavuzwe haruguru, ikayiha n’indishyi zinyuranye. [19] Urukiko rurasanga ibimenyetso biri muri dosiye birimo amasezerano y’ubwubatsi yo kuwa 19/08/2010, yabaye hagati ya Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation na SETRAPCO Ltd, ibaruwa yo kuwa 16/08/2011, Barbara A. Stiefel yandikiye SETRAPCO Ltd ayisaba ko yakwakira 4.385.495 Frw ahwanye n’imirimo yakoze iteganyije muri ayo masezerano, ibaruwa yo kuwa 26/07/2011, Barbara A. Stiefel yandikiye Ritararenga Didas, Umuyobozi wa SETRAPCO Ltd, amumenyesha ko hari imirimo bari barasezeranye yakozwe, ariko ko hari n’itarakozwe, ko azareba uko yakwishyura iyakozwe, hamwe n’ibaruwa yo kuwa 23/08/2011, Barbara A. Stiefel yandikiye SETRAPCO Ltd iyimenyesha ko kuba yaranze kwakira 4.385.495 Frw
yateganyaga kuzayishyura bizatuma bakorana inama kugira ngo bakemure icyo kibazo mu bwumvikane, ko nikinanirana, aribwo SETRAPCO Ltd ishobora kuzaregera Urukiko nk’uko biteganyijwe mu masezerano bagiranye, bigaragaza ko Barbara A. Stiefel ariwe uhagarariye Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu Rwanda kuko yagiye asinya nk’uyihagarariye mu bikorwa byayo. [20] Urukiko rurasanga ibyo SETRAPCO Ltd ivuga ko Penny Ensley na Stephen Rwamurangwa bahawe ububasha na Barbara A. Stiefel bwo guhagararira Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation mu Nkiko nta shingiro bifite, kuko inyandiko yo kuwa 19/08/2010 igaragaza ko Barbara A. Stiefel yabahaye inshingano zo kwemeza ko imirimo yakozwe n’inyemezabuguzi (factures) zijyanye nayo mbere y’uko ayishyura. [21] Hashingiwe ku mategeko n’ibisobanuro bimaze gutangwa, Urukiko rurasanga ubujurire bwa SETRAPCO Ltd butagomba kwakirwa kuko yareze Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation ihagarariwe na Penny Ensley na Stephen Rwamurangwa, kandi nta bubasha bafite bwo kuyihagararira mu Nkiko. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [22] Rwemeje kwakira inzitizi y’iburabubasha bw’abaregwa yatanzwe na Barbara A. Stiefel Foundation; [23] Rwemeje ko iyo nzitizi ifite ishingiro; 1 « La qualité est une condition d’existence de l’action, exigée tant en demandant qu’en défense. Le défaut de qualité donne lieu à une fin de non-recevoir », par SERGE GUINCHARD, Droit et Pratique de la Procédure Civile, 5 ème Edition, Dalloz, Paris, 2006-2007, p. 22.
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[24] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwatanzwe na SETRAPCO Ltd ku rubanza RCOMA 0153/12/CS - RCOM 0291/11/HCC butakiriwe; [25] Rutegetse SETRAPCO Ltd gutanga amagarama y’uru rubanza angana na 35.250 Frw, itayatanga mu gihe cy’iminsi umunani, ayo mafaranga agakurwa mu byayo ku ngufu za Leta.
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