Miss Rwanda Avoids Jail with Suspended Sentence after Drink-Driving Charge

KIGALI |After spending 18 days in police custody, Ms. Muheto, daughter of Assistant Commissioner of Police Francis Muheto, was granted immediate release by a judge, though it remains unclear if the prosecution will appeal the decision. 

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The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving charges last week, asking for leniency on grounds of remorse and her position, suggesting a fine would be an adequate penalty. However, her case has sparked considerable public interest, with no statement from Ms. Muheto herself regarding the incident or the court’s judgment.
Additionally, she was fined Rwf190,000 (about Shs580,000) on Wednesday by the Kicukiro Primary Court in the capital, Kigali. 

She was cleared by the court of allegations of escaping the scene of an accident, however. 
20-year-old Ms. Muheto requested mercy last week, claiming regret and that she was an "important person" who should merely be fined.

In court, prosecutors described Ms. Muheto's October 24 incident, saying that she lost control of her vehicle while driving to Kimironko in the early hours of the morning after leaving a bar in Kicukiro, a district in Kigali. According to Rwanda's state-owned The New Times, she was arrested after an alcohol test showed that her blood alcohol content was high after her car collided with a palm tree and a streetlight pole.

Ms. Muheto's absence of a legal driver's permit raised concerns about her competency and compliance with traffic laws, according to police reports. Prosecutors also claimed that she tried to avoid arrest; however, her defense team denied any attempt to escape while acknowledging the allegations of driving under the influence and causing damage to property. 

According to Ms. Muheto's legal team, she had a valid permit and was well-versed in traffic laws. They insisted that as onlookers started to recognize her and congregate late at night, Ms. Muheto fled the place for her own protection. 

Since the contest has been halted, Ms. Muheto has maintained her Miss Rwanda title from her 2022 crowning in spite of the accusations.