Six CNL party observers from Ngozi sentenced to one year in prison

Ngozi High Court has sentenced six CNL party observers from Marangara commune of Ngozi province to one year in prison and a fine of BIF 50,000 each.

Ngozi province office

Accused of using “ forged documents ”, Alain-Claver Mwiteneza, Moise Nduwimana, André Sibomana, Ferdinand Nzikobanyanka, Léonard Ndacayisaba and Martin Ntuyahaga, all CNL party members, from Marangara commune, have been condemned this Monday, 25 May, to one year in prison and a fine of BIF 50,000 each. They served as CNL observers in recent triple elections of 20 May, 2020.

They were arrested on the Election Day in Marangara commune with photocopied letters of accreditation.

Besides being charged with using “forged document”, Alain-Claver Mwiteneza, one of six arrested CNL members, was also charged with “attempting to disrupt security during the electoral period” ‘and the court had condemned him to 10 years in prison and a fine of BIF 800,000 on 22 May 22.

Onésime Kibatura, lawyer of these CNL members says he and his clients are going to appeal to Ngozi Court of Appeal.

“If these CNL members were apprehended with photocopied accreditation letters, they didn’t commit any fault. Those who should be arrested and imprisoned are agents of the election commission who issued these photocopied accreditations,” he said.

He, however, applauds the court’s decision to acquit Alain-Claver Mwiteneza of “an attempt to disrupt security during the electoral period”.