Auction of PTC machinery and equipment. The value given to the assets by RRA is much lower than the actual value. Anne Rwigara, as company Managing Director, refuses the bid price, as allowed by law –where in a first-round auction, the owner of auctioned goods or properties is allowed to refuse a price following which the auction is immediately postponed to take place 15-days after the first auction. All of this is immediately dismissed and auction is concluded.
June 11
Scheduled auction of PTC machinery and equipment postponed after Rwigara family demands to make their own counter-valuation, as allowed by law. RRA had conducted their valuation of PTC without informing the family. The auction is set for June 18. The family is only given one week to prepare their counter valuation. During that week, the family and its valuators are not allowed on PTC premises and are refused access to documents and machinery necessary in conducting a proper valuation.
May 7
Adeline and Diane defense team asks the court to try the other four co-accused separately. Prosecution states that those co-accused, who all live abroad, have to be summoned. Judge postpones court date to July 24, so as to allow prosecution to call them. It is important to note that the prosecution has had 8 months to summon them.
April
Diane and Adeline’s first trial date is set for May 7 2018.
March 28
Premier Tobacco Company Ltd’s finished products are auctioned at RWF 523 million (half the actual market value of the products). The company representative, Anne Rwigara, refuses the bid price, as allowed by law –where in a first-round auction, the owner of auctioned goods or properties is allowed to refuse a price following which the auction is immediately postponed to take place 15-days after the first auction. All of this is immediately dismissed and auction is concluded. No letter or legal document was ever presented by RRA in order to claim any of the Rwigara assets, including PTC. As of April 19th, Adeline and Diane remain in prison.
March 14
Despite tax case still pending in court, RRA makes public announcement that PTC finished products will be auctioned on March 28 2018. Once again, family was not formally informed. Immediately after RRA auction announcement, the family files a court junction to stop the illegal auction.
March 13
RRA forcibly breaks all PTC padlocks and violently orders PTC security agents to leave the site. No one but RRA agents and its security is allowed on the premises.
February
PTC’s junction is refused by court. Rwigaras appeal. Appeal is denied.
January – March
RRA and other Rwandan authorities regularly pass by PTC premises to take photographs of all assets on site.
January
PTC v. RRA trial set to start in April 2018. PTC files court junction stating that RRA broke the law in its procedure against the company and demands that RRA returns to PTC office documents and computers, opens bank accounts and warehouses, and allows company to continue its operations.