Chronicles journalist gets bail

Idriss Byiringiro. (file photo)

Kacyiru primary court on Tuesday ruled that Idriss Gasana Byiringiro, a journalist working with The Chronicles newspaper, who is accused of lying to security services, is freed on bail while the investigation goes on.

“The court rules that Idriss Gasana Byiringiro gets released on bail, but he is not allowed to get out of Kigali except to go to the National University of Rwanda,” said the judge, requesting Byiringiro to present himself at the court every Friday morning.

Regarding the prosecution’s concerns that the accused would flee or jeopardize evidence once on bail, the judge said that there should be no worries since evidence is stored on electronic devices such as the journalist’s phone and laptop which have been confiscated by the police.

The judge also pointed out that Byiringiro’s uncle Sylvestre Gasana and his employer Christopher Kayumba accepted to personally guarantee that the accused would be available whenever needed.

Byiringiro, a third-year journalism student, was arrested on July 17 on accusations of having fabricated a story of being kidnapped, but he later admitted that he had made up the story, allegedly as part of research for his thesis. However, in court on Monday he once again changed his version of the events, saying that he had been forced to admit he had been lying.

Commenting on Tuesday’s ruling, Byiringiro’s lawyer Evariste Nsabayezu said that they are satisfied with the decision as it’s what they requested for.

Posted by Eric Didier Karinganire on Aug 1 2012. Filed under Daily News, National. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.