Prosecutors seek 5 years in jail for Rwanda Media manager over "drunken behavior" at airport

Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) -  Rwandan prosecutors are seeking s five-year jail sentence for the Managing Director of 'The Chronicles', an independent daily newspaper publishing in Kigali, Dr Christopher Kayumba, who is accused of drunken behavior at Kigali International Airport, a judicial source confirmed  Sunday to PANA in Kigali.

The defendant has always denied the charges.

The Rwandan law stipulates that drunken driving is an offence punishable with a fine of Rwf 150,000 (about US$150), imprisonment, confiscation of driver’s license and impounding the vehicle.

Dr Kayumba was arrested since December last year and denied bail up to appeals.

Rwanda Police say they arrested Dr Kayumba for causing disturbances at Kigali International Airport on December 10, including comment that he would "shutdown the airport".

Two lawyers pulled out of his case without explanation.

The senior Rwandan media manager is accused of, among other crimes, public drunkenness which is punishable under the law nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general; article 268. He is also accused of committing crimes at the airport, punishable under the law N°20/2018 of 29/04/2018 establishing regulations governing civil aviation in its article 41; paragraph 1 and 2.

According to the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), Dr Kayumba is accused of “Intentionally causing damage to, or destroying property at an airport or its related facilities – an offence NPPA says is punishable under the law N°20/2018 of 29/04/2018 establishing regulations governing civil aviation in its article 41; paragraph 3.

-0- PANA TWA/VAO 5July2020