Shema Fabrice Ngoga, the President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) and a businessman, has reached a plea bargain with the Rwandan prosecution. The agreement was signed on September 21, 2026, by Ngoga, his lawyers, and the prosecutor, Tuyisenge Vestine. As part of the agreement, Ngoga has accepted responsibility for the charges brought against him.
The charges against Ngoga relate to issuing unsecured checks worth $600,000 as a representative of his company, Africa Medical Supplier, which supplies medical equipment. The prosecution had accused Ngoga of issuing checks without sufficient funds. The plea bargain agreement will see Ngoga receive a suspended sentence of six months in prison and a fine of three million Rwandan francs.
The agreement between Ngoga and the prosecution does not affect the rights of other individuals who may have claims against him. The plea bargain only relates to the specific charges brought against Ngoga and does not impact any other potential investigations or prosecutions. Ngoga's company, ABZL International General Trading LLC, was not present during the signing of the agreement as the issue of payment had already been resolved.
The plea bargain agreement was made possible by a directive from the Prosecutor General, No. 6/2022, which outlines the use of plea bargaining in cases. The directive allows for plea bargaining in cases where the accused person has cooperated with the prosecution and provided necessary information. The agreement must be approved by the court before it takes effect.
According to the law, No. 027/2019, the prosecution and the accused person can engage in plea bargaining after the accused person has made a statement. The prosecution can offer to reduce the charges or sentence in exchange for the accused person's cooperation. In this case, Ngoga has cooperated with the prosecution and provided necessary information.
The agreement between Ngoga and the prosecution demonstrates the use of plea bargaining in Rwanda's justice system. Plea bargaining allows for the resolution of cases without the need for a full trial, saving time and resources. The agreement also highlights the importance of cooperation between the prosecution and the accused person in resolving cases.
The case against Ngoga highlights the need for businesses to ensure that they have sufficient funds before issuing checks. The case also demonstrates the consequences of issuing unsecured checks, including the potential for prosecution and penalties. Ngoga's agreement with the prosecution serves as a warning to businesses and individuals to ensure that they comply with the law.
Key points
- Shema Fabrice Ngoga, President of FERWAFA, reaches plea bargain with Rwanda's prosecution over allegations of issuing unsecured checks.
