Rwanda Criminal

Supreme Court

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs. MUBERUKA

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The Supreme Court held that since the mitigating factors presented by Muberuka Gratien had already been considered by the High Court, and no new grounds were presented, there was no basis for further reduction of sentence. The appeal was therefore dismissed.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The judgment of the High Court (RPA 0040/11/HC/RWG) is upheld.
  • Court costs are to be borne by the State treasury as the appellant is incarcerated.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution Counsel: Uwombonye Hirwa Sudi

Muberuka Gratien

Accused Counsel: Me Karamira Jacques

Amounts and remedies

  • Initial Sentence (years): 20
  • Reduced Sentence (years): 10
  • Fine Imposed (rwf): RWF 50,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment (supreme Court)

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Whether Muberuka Gratien is entitled to a further reduction of sentence on appeal based on continued admission of guilt and request for leniency

Party arguments

Applicant
Muberuka Gratien argued that his continued admission of guilt and request for forgiveness constitute new grounds for further sentence reduction, emphasizing that he is not a habitual offender and will not reoffend.
Respondent
The prosecution argued that the grounds for mitigation had already been considered by the lower court, that the law does not mandate further reduction, and that the sentence was already sufficiently reduced.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Supreme Court precedents RPA 0129/10/CS and RPA 0036/15/CS

    Mitigating circumstances considered by the lower court cannot be relied upon again in appeal unless new grounds are presented.

  2. 02

    Article 82 and 83 of Law No. 21/77 of 18/08/1977 (Penal Code in force at the time of the offence)

    The judge is not obliged to reduce the sentence but may do so if justified by the circumstances.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The Supreme Court held that since the mitigating factors presented by Muberuka Gratien had already been considered by the High Court, and no new grounds were presented, there was no basis for further reduction of sentence. The appeal was therefore dismissed.

Obiter and limits

  • The sentence imposed by the High Court was the minimum possible given the circumstances and the law.

Court disposition

appeal dismissed

  • The judgment of the High Court (RPA 0040/11/HC/RWG) is upheld.
  • Court costs are to be borne by the State treasury as the appellant is incarcerated.

Source and reliance status

Supreme Court · 17 June 2016

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

Supreme Court

Criminal· 17 June 2016

RPA A 0083/12/CS

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs. MUBERUKA

- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2016-06-17 - Case/document no.: RPA A 0083/12/CS - Collection: Supreme Court

Text

Page 1

UBUSHINJACYAHA vs. MUBERUKA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’IKIRENGA – RPA A 0083/12/CS (Mukanyundo, P.J., Rugabirwa na Nyirandabaruta, J.) 17 Kamena 2016] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano mu bujurire – Impamvu zashingiweho n’Urukiko rubanza zigabanya igihano ntizakongera gushingirwaho mu bujurire iyo nta gishya usaba kugabanyirizwa agaragaza cyaherwaho kuko ibyo asaba yamaze kubihabwa n’umucamanza wa mbere. Incamake y’ikibazo: Ubushinjacyaha bwareze Muberuka Gratien mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare bumukurikiranaho icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana witwa Uwineza Solange w’imyaka 15, urwo Rukiko rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha aregwa, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20 ans). Muberuka yajuririye icyo gihano mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, rumugabanyiriza igihano kuko yageze imbere yarwo akemera icyaha n’ubwo mbere hose atari yaracyemeye, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi (10). Muberuka yarongeye ajurira mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga, avuga ko igishya azanye mu bujurire nuko akomeje kwemera icyaha akaba akomeje gusaba imbabazi no kongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano, bityo ko Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rukwiye guca inkoni izamba rukamugabanyiriza ibihano kubera ko nubwo yakoze icyaha atari ingeso yari asanganywe, kandi ko agabanyirijwe igihano atakongera gukora icyaha. Uwunganira Muberuka nawe avuga ko uwo aburanira yemeye icyaha mu

buryo budashikanywaho ariko ntagabanyirizwe ibihano ngo ahanishwe igihano gito gishoboka, bityo akaba asaba ko hashingirwa ku ngingo ya 78, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo kuwa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ibyaha, uwo yunganira akongera akagabanyirizwa igihano, kubera ko umucamanza ashobora kugabanya kugeza ku myaka itanu (5). Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Muberuka Gratien atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko umucamanza adategetswe byanze bikunze kugabanya igihano, ko ahubwo itegeko riteganya ko ashobora kukigabanya mu gihe asanze bikwiye, bityo ko asanga urubanza rwajuririwe rudakwiye guhinduka kubera ko yagabanyirijwe ku buryo buhagije. Incamake y’icyemezo: Impamvu zashingiweho n’Urukiko rubanza zigabanya igihano ntizakongera gushingirwaho mu bujurire iyo nta gishya usaba kugabanyirizwa agaragaza cyaherwaho kuko ibyo asaba yamaze kubihabwa n’umucamanza wa mbere. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite; Amagarama y’urubanza aherereye ku isanduku ya Leta. Amategeko yashingiweho:

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Itegako Nº 27/2001 ryo ku wa 28/04/2001 ryerekeye uburenganzira bw’umwana n’uburyo bwo kumurinda ihohoterwa, ingingo ya 34. Imanza zifashishijwe:

Page 3

Urubanza RPA0129/10/CS, rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na Mpitabakana , rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga kuwa 7/03/2014, Iscyegeranyo cy’ibyemezo by’inkiko, (Law Report , V. 2 – 2014) , Ukwakira , 2014;

Page 4

Urubanza RPA 0036/15/CS rw’ Ubushinjacyaha na DDUNGU Hasifa, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 23/10/2015.

Urubanza I.IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, Ubushinjacyaha bukurikiranyeho Muberuka Gratien icyaha cyo gusambanya umwana witwa Uwineza Solange w’imyaka 15, mu rubanza RP 0394/010/TGI/NYG rwaciwe ku wa 21/01/2011, urwo Rukiko rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha aregwa, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri (20 ans). Muberuka Gratien yajuririye icyo gihano mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, rumugabanyiriza igihano kuko yageze imbere yarwo akemera icyaha n’ubwo mbere hose atari yaracyemeye, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi (10). [2] Muberuka Gratien yarongeye ajurira mu Rukiko rw’Ikirenga, avuga ko akomeje kwemera icyaha akaba akomeje gusaba imbabazi no kongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano. [3] Iburanisha ryabereye mu ruhame ku wa 16/5/2016, Muberuka Gratien yitabye yunganiwe na Me Karamira Jacques, naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Uwombonye Hirwa Sudi, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. II. IKIBAZO KIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYACYO. Kumenya niba Muberuka Gratien akwiye kongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano [4] Muberuka Gratien avuga ko igishya azanye mu bujurire bwe ari uko akomeje kwemera icyaha akaba asaba imbabazi, anerekana uburyo yakoze icyaha akurikiranyweho, ko Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rukwiye guca inkoni izamba rukamugabanyiriza ibihano kubera ko nubwo yakoze icyaha atari ingeso yari asanganywe, kandi ko agabanyirijwe

igihano atakongera gukora icyaha. [5] Me Karamira Jacques umwunganira avuga ko Muberuka Gratien yemeye icyaha mu buryo budashikanywaho ariko ntagabanyirizwe ibihano ngo ahanishwe igihano gito gishoboka, asaba ko hashingirwa ku ngingo ya 78, igika cya 2 y’Itegeko Ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo kuwa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho Igitabo cy’amategeko ahana ibyaha, uwo yunganira akongera akagabanyirizwa igihano, kubera ko umucamanza ashobora kugabanya kugeza ku myaka itanu (5). [6] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Muberuka Gratien atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko umucamanza adategetswe byanze bikunze kugabanya igihano, ko ahubwo itegeko riteganya ko ashobora kukigabanya mu gihe asanze bikwiye, akaba asanga urubanza rwajuririwe rudakwiye guhinduka kubera ko yagabanyirijwe ku buryo buhagije, kuko umucamanza wa mbere yamuhanishije igifungo cy‘imyaka makumyabiri ( 20 ans), naho uw’Urukiko Rukuru amuhanisha igifungo cy‘imyaka icumi (10 ans).

UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA

Page 5

[7] Ingingo ya 34 y’Itegako Nº 27/2001 ryo ku wa 28/04/2001 ryerekeye uburenganzira bw’umwana n’uburyo bwo kumurinda ihohoterwa, iteganya ko azahanishwa igifungo kuva ku myaka makumyabiri kugeza kuri makumyabiri n'itanu n'ihazabu y'amafaranga kuva ku bihumbi ijana kugeza ku bihumbi magana atanu, umuntu wese uzaba yasambanyije umwana ufite hagati y'imyaka 14 na 18 y'amavuko. Azahanishwa igifungo cya burundu n'ihazabu y'amafaranga kuva ku bihumbi ijana kugeza ku bihumbi magana abiri umuntu wese uzaba yasambanyije umwana utarageza ku myaka cumi n'ine y'amavuko. [8] Ku byerekeye igabanyagihano Muberuka Gratien asaba, Urukiko rurasanga iryo gabanyagihano ritareberwa mu ngingo ya 78 y’Itegeko ngenga N° 01/2012/OL ryo ku wa 02/05/2012 rishyiraho igitabo cy‘amategeko ahana nk’uko umwunganira abisaba, ahubwo harebwa ingingo ya 82 n’iya 83 z’Itegeko N° 21/77 ryo kuwa 18/08/1977 rishyraho igitabo cy’amategeko ahana cyakurikizwaga ubwo icyaha Muberuka Gratien akurikiranyweho cyakorwaga. Iya 82 iteganya ko umucamanza ari we uha agaciro impamvu zigabanya ubugizi bwa nabi bw’uwakoze icyaha, iza kibanjirije cyangwa izagikurikiye, yaba azemeje akagomba kubisobanurira impamvu, naho iya 83 iteganya uburyo ibihano bigabanywa iyo umucamanza asanze hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha. [9] Dosiye igaragaza ko mu rubanza RPA 0040/11/HC/RWG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugreko rwa Rwamagana (urupapuro rwa 2,

gace ka 7), Urukiko rwashingiye ku ngingo ya 35 y’Itegeko Nº 13/2004 ryo ku wa 17/5/2004 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha, rwemeza ko Muberuka Gratien akwiye guhanishwa ½ cy’igihano yari ateganyirijwe kuko yemeye icyaha (rupapuro rwa 2 agace ka 6), rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 10 n’ihazabu y’amafaranga ibihumbi mirongo itanu (50. 000 frw). [10] Urukiko rurasanga nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, Muberuka Gratien yaragabanyirijwe ibihano hashingiwe ku kwemera icyaha kwe, aho guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu, nk’uko byateganywaga n’Itegeko ryavuzwe haruguru, ahanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 10. [11] Urukiko rusanga kuba impamvu Muberuka Gratien aheraho asaba igabanyagihano, arizo zahereweho agabanyirizwa mu Rukiko Rukuru, izo mpamvu zitakongera gushingirwaho ngo yongere agabanyirizwe, kubera ko nta gishya agaragaza mu bujurire cyaherwaho yongera kugabanirizwa ibihano kuko ibyo asaba yabihawe n’umucamanza wa mbere. Ibyo bihura kandi n’ibyemejwe mu manza nyinshi zaciwe n’uru Rukiko, nko mu rubanza RPA 0129/10/CS na RPA 0036/15/CS zaciwe n’uru Rukiko, aho abashinjwa basabye kongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano ariko ntibabihabwe1. [12] Urukiko rurasanga uretse n’ibyo, Muberuka Gratien yarahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka icumi (10 ans) icyo gihano kigereranyijwe n’icyaha yakoze cyo gusambanya umwana, bigaragara ko urukiko rwamuhanishije igihano gito gishoboka, bityo ubujurire bwe bukaba nta shingiro bufite.

1- Urubanza RPA0129/10/CS, rwaciwe kuwa 7/03/2014 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Mpitabakana , icyegeranyo cy’ibyemezo by’inkiko, (Law Report , V. 2 – 2014) , Ukwakira , 2014; Urubanza no RPA 0036/15/CS rwaciwe ku wa 23/10/2015 haburana Ubushinjacyaha na DDUNGU Hasifa.

Page 6

III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO. [13] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Muberuka Gratien nta shingiro bufite. [14] Rwemeje ko urubanza RPA 0040/11/HC/RWG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana ku wa 29/12/2011, rudahindutse. [15] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’urubanza aherera ku isanduku ya Leta kubera ko Muberuka Gratien afunze.

Source wording is retained. Consult the source document for its original formatting and pagination.

Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

RPA 0129/10/CS (Ubushinjacyaha v. Mpitabakana), Supreme Court, 07/03/2014

Case cited

RPA 0036/15/CS (Ubushinjacyaha v. DDUNGU Hasifa), Supreme Court, 23/10/2015

Case cited

Law No. 27/2001 of 28/04/2001 on the Rights and Protection of the Child, Article 34

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Organic Law No. 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012, Article 78

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law No. 21/77 of 18/08/1977, Articles 82 and 83

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Law No. 13/2004 of 17/5/2004, Article 35

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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