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Bizimungu lawyer held for contempt of court

[Rwanda] Bizimungu. UN DPI
Rwandan former President Pasteur Bizimungu
    KIGALI

    Proceedings in the trial of former Rwanda President Pasteur Bizimungu were disrupted on Wednesday when his lawyer was arrested for contempt of court.

    A judge in the Kigali Court of First Instance ordered Bizimungu's lawyer, Jean-Bosco Kazungu, jailed for 24 hours for causing "disruption and failing to adhere to orders issued by the president of the court".

    The trial for Bizimungu, who is facing treason charges, resumed on Monday amid drama as a prosecution witness recanted his testimony, saying the police had intimidated him into signing a statement claming that Bizimungu was recruiting a private militia.

    The witness, Obed Nsigiyumva, 33, disowned his testimony under cross-examination by Kazungu

    Bizimungu's trial opened in March, nearly after one-and-half years of his detention. He is charged with threatening national security, attempting to form a militia, being in illegal possession of firearms, and embezzlement of US $100,000 that was meant for genocide orphans.

    The prosecution has accused Bizimungu, and co-defendant former Public Works Minister Charles Ntakirutinka, of inciting civil disobedience and spreading partisan politics aimed at dividing Rwandans along ethnic lines.

    If found guilty, Bizimungu faces a prison term of up to 20 years.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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