FORMER INTEL CHIEF KAREGEYA SENTENCED FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000687 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C EUCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PHUM RW UG SUBJECT: FORMER INTEL CHIEF KAREGEYA SENTENCED FOR DESERTION AND INSUBORDINATION REF: IIR 6 956 0169 06 Classified By: POLOFF GLEARNED for reason 1.4 (D) ¶1. (U) Summary. On 13 July a Rwandan Military Tribunal ruled that Col. Patrick Karegeya was guilty of insubordination and desertion and sentenced him to a prison term of one year and eight months. Both the prosecution and defense intend to appeal the verdict at the Military High Court. End summary. ¶2. (U) Background. Karegeya's most recent jobs were Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) Spokesman and National Security Service Director General of the Department of External Intelligence and Security. In 2005, he was detained for six months with no charge (reftel). Upon release, Karegeya remained in Rwanda, but did not return to work. On 15 May, Karegeya was arrested at his Kigali home and charged with insubordination. An additional charge of desertion was added immediately prior to the 15 June trial. Karegeya pleaded innocent to the prosecution's charges that he had refused a direct order to return to work by the RDF Chief of General Staff General James Kabarebe. The prosecution maintained that Kaberebe gave Karegeya a direct verbal command to return to duty at a meeting at Kabarebe's residence. ¶3. (C) Poloff had two conversations with Karegeya at diplomatic events before he was arrested for the second time on 15 May. When asked about his status in early April, Karegeya told poloff that he had seen and talked with Kaberebe regularly but had not received any guidance as to his next assignment. He said that he expected to return to active duty and was biding time working on his house in the interim. ¶4. (C) Comment. There was little hard evidence provided in the trial to substantiate the charges other than cell phone bills that confirmed contact was made between Kabarebe and Karegeya- but not the subject matter of the calls. The desertion and insubordination charges come down to a "he said/ he said" argument, unfortunately for Karegeya, the other "he" in this equation is the most senior ranking General in the RDF. Post will continue to follow and report on this matter. End comment. THURSTON