Pierre Damien Habumuremyi

Rwanda: president Kagame pardons ex-PM jailed for fake cheques

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has pardoned former Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi who was sentenced to three years in prison for issuing counterfeit cheques.

The former PM was jailed last year for the fraudulent cheques he paid out to creditors at his Kigali-based Christian University of Rwanda, which has since been closed down, state media reported.

He was ordered to pay 892m Rwandan francs ($879,000; £641,000) in damages and his accounts will remain frozen and property seized until he pays, the report said.

The former minister’s son, Appollo Mucyo, who had campaigned for his release, wrote on Instagram: “My heart is full. I’m overwhelmed with happiness! I can’t even find the right words”.

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Damien Habumuremyi, aged 60, served as Minister of Education before becoming Prime Minister of the country from 2011 to 2014

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