It is alleged that soldiers and night community policing personnel who
were on duty of enforcing the lockdown due to the coronavirus
molested and raped women and girls. PHOTO | URUGWIRO
The Military Court in Rwanda will try soldiers alleged to have
raped and molested women and other residents in the Kigali City suburb
of Nyarutarama.
According to the announcement by
Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) last week, “the court hearing shall be held
in public at the scene of the alleged crimes,” the announcement said.
It
is alleged that soldiers and night community policing personnel who
were on duty of enforcing the lockdown due to the coronavirus
molested and raped women and girls.
RDF spokesperson Lt Col Innocent Munyengango told The East African; “It
has never happened before, this is the first time the military court is
going to try soldiers at the crime scene,” Lt Col Munyengango said,
supplementing the announcement which assured the public that “justice
will take its course.”
Five soldiers have been
detained as Military Prosecution continues the “investigations into
allegations of criminal misconduct against citizens,” but it’s not known
yet when they will be arraigned.
The incidents
occurred within the two weeks of lockdown, with alleged soldiers
sneaking into homes in Nyarutarama, beating residents and sexually
molesting women.
One woman told the media that her husband was forced out of
their house then she was kicked by a soldier, and raped inside her
house.
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