The Military High Court on Thursday, May 21 postponed the hearing of an appeal filed by five Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) soldiers who were remanded last week on charges of assaulting citizens.

The soldiers, all at the rank of private, along with one civilian were sent on a 30-day remand by a military tribunal, on charges of committing several acts of aggression against citizens of Kangondo 2 village, Nyarutarama cell in Remera Sector, Gasabo District, City of Kigali.

Two of the soldiers; Fidele Nishimwe and Patrick Ndayishimiye were charged with rape, robbery, creating and being part of a criminal group, beating and injuring people, trespass, as well as abandoning their patrol stations and not respecting its regulations.

According to military prosecution, the three soldiers offered protection for Nishimwe and Ndayishimiye while they raped women, while Ntakaziraho and Mukamulisa guided them on which people to assault from the community.

Appearing in court Thursday, the five soldiers did not have their lawyer and said they were not ready to enter plea without him.