Rwanda Case Law

IMIRONGO CoA - No 5 - Febuary -2023

Court

Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal established binding principles on calculation of appeal deadlines, mandatory payment of withholding tax, distinction between civil and commercial acts, contract classification, recusal standards, sentencing discretion and mitigation, procedural limits on appellate arguments, modification of charges, proportionality in drug sentencing, and retroactive application of interpretive ministerial orders.

Source excerpt

• Sexual offenses against minors
• Withholding tax
• Civil liability (responsabilité civile)
• Recusal of judges
• Appeal deadlines
• Mitigating circumstances

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IMIRONGO CoA - Ukuboza 2023 - Booklet#13 Final

Court

Court of Appeal

Cases at different procedural levels cannot be joined for joint hearing; if joined, the resulting judgment is void and matters revert to their prior state. Land title is conclusive evidence of ownership unless the challenger provides indisputable proof. Guilty plea is mitigating only if made unequivocally before close of first instance trial. Appeal grounds must be timely unless jurisdictional. Drug offences are distinguished by quantity and intent. Recusal must be based on personal relationship or interest. Second appeal on non-existent law requires actual reliance on such law. Courts may re…

Source excerpt

• Joinder of cases
• Land title annulment
• Child support after divorce
• Plea of guilty and mitigation
• Appeal time limits
• Drug offences

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IMIRONGO CoA - Nzeri 2023 - Booklet#10

Court

Court of Appeal

The accident suffered by MULINDAHABI Félix did not qualify as a workplace accident because he was not traveling between his regular residence and workplace on a work assignment paid for by the employer, nor was there evidence that the journey was employer-mandated. Therefore, liability rests with the vehicle insurer (SANLAM AG Plc), not the social security fund (RSSB).

Source excerpt

• Workplace accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Appeals procedure
• Mitigating circumstances
• Sentencing guidelines
• Acceptance of guilt

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IMIRONGO CoA - No 7- April - 2023

Court

Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal established binding principles on criminal responsibility and mental illness, the definition of contradictory judgments, the limits of procedural error as grounds for second appeal, the requirements for recusal, evidentiary standards for property division among unmarried cohabitants, the scope of mitigating circumstances in sentencing, the validity of confessions, the appellate court's power to reduce sentences, the corroboration requirement for child testimony, and the rule that doubt must benefit the accused.

Source excerpt

• Criminal responsibility and mental illness
• Contradictory judgments
• Forgery and use of forged documents
• Recusal of judges
• Division of property for unmarried cohabitants
• Sentencing principles

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IMIRONGO CoA - Avril 2023 - Booklet#7

Court

Court of Appeal

Court of Appeal digest of April 2023 precedents on criminal responsibility, contradictory judgments, recusal, sentencing mitigation, corroboration, cohabitation property division, and labour redundancy.

• Criminal responsibility and mental illness
• Contradictory judgments
• Forgery and use of forged documents
• Recusal of judges
• Division of property for unmarried cohabitants
• Sentencing guidelines and mitigation

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IMIRONGO CoA Booklet no 5

Court

Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal established that procedural fairness requires appeal periods to be calculated from the date judgment reading minutes are entered into the official system if there is a delay, not from the oral pronouncement. Withholding tax obligations apply regardless of explicit mention in judgments. The distinction between commercial and civil acts depends on the nature and purpose of the act, not the status of the actor. Recusal of judges requires objective evidence of bias existing before the case. Sentencing must consider proportionality and mitigating factors, allowing for reduction…

Source excerpt

• Sexual offenses against minors
• Withholding tax
• Civil liability (responsabilité civile)
• Recusal of judges
• Sentencing principles
• Appeals procedure

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