Terror suspect Mutabazi appears in court

Lt. Mutabazi (C) and his co-accused before the Nyamirambo Military Tribunal yesterday.

Terror suspect Joel Mutabazi was yesterday arraigned before court to hear his charges.

Lt. Mutabazi, a former Rwanda Defence Force officer, appeared before Nyamirambo Military Tribunal in the morning, where multiple charges levelled against him and his co-accused were read out.

He appeared before the court with 14 other suspects, including three women.

Presiding judge Charles Sumanyi read to the suspect his charges.

“You are accused of terrorism, formation of an armed group, spreading rumors with an intention to incite the public to rise up against the State, murder and conspiracy to murder, offence against the State and illegal possession of fire arms,” Capt. Sumanyi said.

The judge then asked the suspect if he was ready to stand trial.

Lt. Mutabazi told court that he is indigent and asked for legal aid ahead of the trial, prompting the judge to adjourn the hearing to ensure that he is accorded the necessary legal support.

The next pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for November 25.

Desertion and subversion

Lt. Mutabazi deserted the army and fled to Uganda in October 2011, where he is alleged to have operated a terror cell responsible for the spate of grenade attacks in Kigali.

Information gathered from suspects arrested after the grenade blasts in Kigali suggested that Lt. Mutabazi had been coordinating a group of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) agents who allegedly carried out the attacks earlier this year.

The FDLR are a militia group based in DR Congo largely responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

An Interpol red notice was issued following an international arrest warrant by Rwandan authorities accusing Lt. Mutabazi of terrorism activities and other criminal acts.

Lt. Mutabazi was arrested and handed over by Uganda Police last month.

Terror suspect Mutabazi appears in court