APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – The Primary Court in Nyagatare (East) on Wednesday 15 November remanded former police chief and Governor of Eastern Province, Emmanuel Gasana to a thirty-day mandatory preventive detention, pending concluding ongoing investigations.
Retired Commissioner General (CG) Emmanuel Gasana face two charges – soliciting and accepting illegal benefits in exchange for favours, as well as abuse of office.
The presiding judge said there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the defendant committed the crimes for which he is being prosecuted.
These grounds include testimonies and pictures presented as evidence.
During the initial hearing last week, Gasana was pinned by prosecutors for having coerced a businessman who was contracted to drill water for irrigation in different parts of the province, to include his farm, works that cost 48 million Rwanda Francs (some $46,000)
In his defence, Gasana said he received free services from the investor because his farm was close to an electricity line and a water source from where water would be easily pumped to neighbouring residents who faced water shortage challenges.
Gasana has been governor of Eastern Province for approximately two and a half years, having been appointed by President Paul Kagame on March 15, 2021.
The retired senior police officer also served as Commissioner General of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and subsequently Inspector General between 2009 to 2018.
Before transitioning to the Rwandan police, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
He was promoted to Brigadier General in the RDF and served as acting Chief of Logistics for the army.
Gasana also previously held the position of Governor of Southern Province from 2018 to 2020.
CU/as/APA