Nyarugenge Intermediate Court Friday ordered the proprietor of a popular radio station, Contact FM, to pay a total of Rwf 35,780,000 to five of his former employees who had sued him for illegal dismissal.

Judge Alex Hitimana found Contact FM management guilty of illegally firing five of his staff members without any notice, violating contracts signed with them, nonpayment of their social security contributions and declining to furnish them with recommendation letters before firing them, among other charges.

The five plaintiffs are Syldio Seruharara, Théoneste Nisingizwe, Fred Muvunyi, Jean Claude Nkusi and Jean Pierre Twizeyeyezu, who were all fired on November 1, 2011.

The ruling was made in Rudatsimburwa's absence.

The amount of money awarded includes the plaintiffs' backdated salaries, social security contributions, among others.

The court ordered Rudatsimburwa to pay the said amount of money within a month unless he appeals within that period.