The trial of former CEO of Miss Rwanda beauty pageant contest, Dieudonne Ishimwe a.k.a Prince Kid resumed Wednesday with the presiding judge ruling that the proceedings continue held behind closed doors.
The presiding judge at the intermediate court of Nyarugenge in Kigali city ruled that the decision by the court was founded on the principles of respect, care and dignity and the evidence of serious incidences of poor safety of victims
Ishimwe is the head of Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the company behind the annual Miss Rwanda pageant.
The charges against Ishimwe include three counts of rape, soliciting or offering sexual favours, and harassment. Ishimwe has been the boss of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up since 2009.
Details indicate that suspect, cornered at several occasions the contestants in Miss Rwanda pageants, promising then that he had the ability to help them sail through the competition and win the crown.
Following the incident, Rwanda’s ministry of Youth and Culture decided to suspend the beauty pangeant contest pending ongoing investigation into alleged sexual assault by organisers.
Reacting to the incident, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said that even though the issue [of sextortion] was reported in Miss Rwanda, in other institutions including in central government and in the army, sexual abuse is becoming a concern.
Speaking during a recent ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) – Inkotanyi congress, Kagame observed that this issue has even reached schools where teachers give marks for sex.
“It’s really bad and we should denounce it. But girls, women themselves should understand that men don’t own them,” he said.
CU/abj/APA