Faith Nyasuguta
A court in Rwanda has sentenced a Chinese national for torture after a video emerged showing him beating African men tied to a tree.
The court on Tuesday sentenced Sun Shujun to 20 years behind bars, a journalist who attended the court session revealed.
Similarly, a Rwandese man said to be his employee was also sentenced to 12 years in prison for abetting torture.
According to the court, the victims are reported to have been former workers at a mine operated by the Chinese national in Rutsiro district and who were allegedly linked to theft.
According to Mr Shujun, he had previously cautioned thieves after his belongings were repeatedly stolen.
In August last year, the three-minute video went viral in Rwanda and led to the arrest of Mr Shujun – who was later released on bail.
The footage was taken by angry workers and shared on social media.
The Chinese embassy in Kigali condemned “unlawful acts” in the video, local media reported.
According to witnesses, Mr Shujun had erected a cross where those suspected of stealing from him were tied and whipped.
See the video below:
