IHRDA SGBV Database

CASE N ° RPAA 0024/13 / CS

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THE SUPREME COURT SITTING IN KIGALI, HEARING CRIMINAL CASES ON
24/03/2017, PUBLICLY DECIDES ON CASE N ° RPAA 0024/13 / CS AS FOLLOWS:
PARTIES:
PUBLIC PROSECUTION
Versus
Abisi Lambert, son of Munyankindi Jean and Mukamusoni, born in 1988, in Kigara
Village, Kabeza Cell, Gitare Sector, Rusizi District, Western Province, resides in Kigarama
Village, Kigarama Cell, Kimisagara Sector

OFFENCE
Rape of a child below 14 years, an offense provided for and punishable by Articles 33 and
34 of Law No. 27/2001 of 2001 Relating to Rights and Protection of the Child Against
Violence
I.

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

1. The trial began in Nyarugenge High Court, where a house-help Abisi Lambert was
charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old child, Teta Bithia. The
Prosecution submitted that on March 17, 2012, he entered the room where the girl
and her young brother were sleeping, took off her underwear while the girl was
still asleep and raped her. The child felt pain and woke up immediately. Then,
Abisi Lambert also went out running. The Prosecution relied on the testimony of
witness Umutoni Marie Claire, elder sister to Teta Bithia, the girl’s statement, and
a medical report indicating that she lost her virginity (hymen torn between 5 and
7 p.m.), that she was sexually abused (with signs of genital trauma), and that she
has been infected with sexually transmitted infections.