Rwanda: Appeals trial for Editor adjourned

The appeals trial in the case involving the Editor in Chief of Umuvugizi newspaper, Jean Bosco Gasasira was on 25th March 2010 adjourned to 23rd April 2010 when the presiding judge will rule on whether witnesses should be called.

Gasasira is appealing against a defamation conviction after being sued by a prosecutor Jean Bosco Muntangana and the head of National Women’s council Dr. Gashumba Diane following a story he published alleging an extra marital relationship between the two. Gasasira was in November convicted of charges of defamation and invasion of privacy but acquitted of the third count of insult and abuse and fined a total of about US$6000.

On the first day of the appeals trial on 24th March, Gasasira made a spirited presentation arguing that the trial at the first instance denied him a chance to present witnesses who would have proven the accuracy of his story.

He insisted that it was in the public interest to publish the story since two journalists had before been jailed while trying to investigate the extramarital affairs.

Gasasira and his lawyers presented letters written to the president and the secretariat of the ruling party, RPF, by individuals alleging prosecutor Mutangana was having affairs with their wives.

The prosecution, however, opposed this. The prosecution side representing Mutangana and Dr. Gashumba is also appealing alleging that the sentence was lenient.

- April 1, 2010 by Eastern African Journalists Association (EAJA)

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Source: www.eaja.org (accessed on 06.04.10)