Three leaders of “Umoja ni Nguvu,” a security cooperative operating in Nyanza District, have appealed a decision ordering their 30-day provisional detention over alleged embezzlement and use of forged documents.
The suspects include Pascal Munyanziza, the cooperative’s president; Hategekimana Vincent, formerly in charge of staff; and Charles Kayumba, responsible for personnel management. They are accused of embezzlement and forgery or use of forged documents.
The Busasamana Primary Court ruled that there are serious grounds to suspect them and ordered their detention for 30 days as investigations continue.
They are currently held at Huye Correctional Facility but have since filed an appeal before the Huye Intermediate Court.
Prosecution alleges the trio was involved in the misappropriation of cooperative funds amounting to about Rwf17 million. The case is partly based on testimony from Eugene Nsabimana, a former collections officer, who admitted to embezzling more than Rwf3 million.
According to prosecutors, Nsabimana implicated the accused, alleging they opened another bank account in Ruhango District where cooperative funds were diverted, withdrawn and shared among them.
Nsabimana, who later absconded after being provisionally released, told the court he handed over money to some of the cooperative leaders either in cash or via mobile transfers.
Prosecution also alleges the existence of “ghost workers”—individuals listed on payroll but not actually working—who were nonetheless paid salaries with the knowledge of the accused.
The defendants deny all charges, instead blaming Nsabimana, who fled justice.
Some cooperative members had petitioned the court seeking the suspects’ release pending trial, but the request was dismissed on grounds that it did not represent all members and that they were not the complainants.
The court further cited the risk of the accused fleeing justice, referencing Nsabimana’s escape.
The appeal is pending before the intermediate court.
