CASE Nº RPAA 0036/15 / CS
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14. Mr. BIZUMUREMYI Félix, counsel for HABIMANA Djumapili, states that his
client admits to sitting the child on his thighs but did not insert his sex into her’s,
but ejaculated and did not harm her. He adds that although what his client did
was bad, he pleaded guilty on appeal as he did at the time of his arrest. He asks
the Court to reduce his sentence in accordance with the provisions of article 78 of
Organic Law n ° 01/2012 / OL of 02/05/2012 mentioned above, and on the
jurisprudence established in case no RPA 0282 / 08 / CS-Prosecution vs
NYIRANGONDO Virginie where the Court stated that wherever the defendant
pleads guilty, he could have his sentence reduced.
15. The Prosecution representative states that HABIMANA Djumapili apologizes but
does not plead guilty not does he give a clear explanation of how he committed
the offence. He adds that Article 35 of Law n ° 13/2004 of 17/05/2004 on Penal
Procedure Code in force at the time of the crime does not justify a more reduced
sentence as it has already been sufficiently reduced, and that the merits of the
judgment under appeal should not be changed.
The Court’s analysis
16. Article 76 of the above-mentioned Organic Law n ° 01/2012 / OL of 02/05/2012,
stipulates that the judge may consider the appropriateness of mitigating
circumstances which preceded, accompanied or followed an offence. The decision
to accept mitigating circumstances must be justified.
17. The Court finds that HABIMANA Djumapili admits that the child NTAWIHA
Janath found him in the room, sat her on his thighs, did not insert his penis in the
child’s vagina, acted under the influence of alcohol, did not ejaculate in the vagina,
and he apologizes for it.
18. The Court also finds that, as described above, HABIMANA Djumapili's conduct
constituted a crime of sexual child abuse, and that he has admitted it at the time of
his arrest and before this Court and apologizes, which indicates his remorse, and
therefore his confession constitutes a mitigating circumstance which justify
reducing his sentence from 15 years to 10 years of imprisonment, so the judgment
appealed against shall be reversed.
III.
COURT DECISION
19. Holds that the appeal of HABIMANA Djumapili is well-founded;