Bururi : three judges of the First Instance Court in detention request acquittal

Since the beginning of this year, three judges from the First Instance Court of Bururi (southern Burundi) have been detained in the provincial prison. According to judicial sources, the three officials are prosecuted for gradually releasing eight prisoners suspected of having killed people with machetes in this southern province of Burundi. Before the Court of Appeal, the judges pleaded not guilty. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

During the public hearing on Friday March 1, 2024 before the Bururi Court of Appeal, the three judges declared that they carried out their duty in accordance with the law. They are prosecuted for having released eight detainees accused of killing people with machetes.

According to a judicial source, they granted provisional release to eight alleged perpetrators of machete attacks against residents of the Bururi district during the months of May and June 2023.

Those concerned explained to the Court of Appeal that they had not obtained evidence that could justify their continued detention.

The public prosecutor requested a jail sentence of 7 and a half years and the payment of a fine of 2 million Burundi francs for each.

The public prosecutor accuses them of “complicity in undermining the internal security of the State”.

Eight alleged perpetrators of the attacks cited in this case were acquitted by the Bururi First Instance Court on January 30, 2024.

However, they are still detained at Murembwe central prison in Rumonge, a neighboring province in southwest Burundi.

A judicial source contacted told SOS Médias Burundi that the public prosecutor has appealed against the provisional release ruling in favor of these detainees.

The case was taken under advisement.