Dieudonne Ishimwe, the organizer of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant and a former musician known as Prince Kid, has been sentenced to five years in prison for rape and soliciting sexual favours. The conviction came 10 months after he was cleared of the same charges.
Ishimwe had been arrested in April the previous year on allegations of sexually assaulting former contestants. However, in December, a judge found the 36-year-old not guilty due to insufficient evidence, and he was ordered to be released. The prosecution appealed this decision.
On Friday, a Kigali court convicted Ishimwe of rape and soliciting sexual favours but acquitted him of sexual harassment. The prosecutors had initially sought a 16-year prison sentence. However, the three-judge panel determined a five-year term, citing it as the first time Ishimwe had been charged with a crime.
Ishimwe, who married a former Miss Rwanda earlier this year, was also fined two million Rwandan francs ($1,640). Neither Ishimwe nor his legal representatives were present in court for the ruling.
Ishimwe’s lawyer, Emeline Nyembo, indicated that they had not yet decided whether to appeal, stating, “I have not had the opportunity to meet with my client. Once I have consulted with Mr. Ishimwe and discussed the matter with him, we will determine our course of action.”
Ishimwe’s arrest had led to the suspension of the annual Miss Rwanda contest, one of the country’s leading beauty pageants. The Miss Rwanda pageant made its debut in the global Miss World competition in 2016.
The case highlights the legal complexities and challenges that can arise in cases of alleged sexual misconduct, even after initial acquittals.