UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NAHIMANA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NAHIMANA

The Court of Appeal found that the High Court relied on converging evidence: the accused’s investigative confession, the statements of the girls, and other material showing he deceived the girls with promises of work, paid and arranged their travel, instructed them to hide, and sought to move them across the border...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Appellant/respondent: UBUSHINJACYAHA; Respondent/appellant: Nahimana Jean de Dieu
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal From Judgment No. RP 00012/2024/hc/hccic
Outcome
Appeal dismissed in substance; conviction upheld; sentence varied downward
Legal Topics
Human Trafficking, Crossing Border Without Authorization, Evidentiary Value of Statements Made During Investigation, Appeal Against Sentence
Source Language
rw
Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Human Trafficking Crossing Border Without Authorization Evidentiary Value of Statements Made During Investigation Appeal Against Sentence

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Parties

UBUSHINJACYAHA

Appellant/respondent

Nahimana Jean de Dieu

Respondent/appellant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal From Judgment No. RP 00012/2024/hc/hccic

  1. 1 Whether the High Court convicted Nahimana Jean de Dieu without sufficient evidence.
  2. 2 Whether statements made in investigation and later retracted could be relied upon.
  3. 3 Whether the facts established the offence of trafficking in persons.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal found that the High Court relied on converging evidence: the accused’s investigative confession, the statements of the girls, and other material showing he deceived the girls with promises of work, paid and arranged their travel, instructed them to hide, and sought to move them across the border without authorization. These facts satisfied the elements of trafficking in persons, so the conviction was upheld. However, the sentence was reduced from 20 years and 20,000,000 RWF to 15 years and 15,000,000 RWF.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed in substance; conviction upheld; sentence varied downward

Orders

  • Ubujurire bwa Nahimana Jean de Dieu nta shingiro bufite.
  • Imikirize y'urubanza no RP 00012/2024/HC/HCCIC ihindutse gusa ku bijyanye n'igihano.