Audio By Carbonatix
The organiser of Miss Rwanda beauty pageant has been arrested on allegations of sexually abusing contestants, the authorities have said.
The arrest of Dieudonné Ishimwe, the chief executive of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up, the company that organises the contest, comes just a month after this year's edition.
Mr Ishimwe has not responded to the accusations against him.
The Miss Rwanda pageant is one of the most followed events in Rwanda.
An employee of the organising company told the BBC that four girls who contested last year and in this year’s edition had made complaints to investigators before his arrest.
“While the case was still under investigation, he was arrested on Monday”, she told the BBC under a condition of anonymity.
A state investigator is quoted by local media as saying that Mr Ishimwe "is suspected of sexual abuse charges towards Miss Rwanda contestants on different occasions”.
Leading one to sex acts “by force, threats, trickery or by use of authority over that person” is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Rwanda.
The spokesperson of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up, who is the winner of Miss Rwanda 2019, resigned last week.
Latest Stories
-
Mahama avoiding expensive jet rentals by using brother’s aircraft – Gov’t
41 minutes -
All service contracts at Accra International Airport to be held to high delivery standards -Transport Minister warns
50 minutes -
Frequent breakdown of presidential jet forced interim use of brother’s aircraft – Felix Ofosu Kwakye
53 minutes -
Mother calls for thorough probe into daughter’s death at Adawso
1 hour -
World Bank Group MD to visit Ghana and Liberia
1 hour -
Automated Road Traffic Law set for passage by end of March
1 hour -
Ghana to use automated technology to catch traffic offenders in real-time
1 hour -
Two robbery suspects killed as police dismantle gang on Obuasi–Dunkwa highway
2 hours -
Mahama’s use of brother’s jet not permanent, it’s due to lack of reliable state aircraft – Felix Ofosu Kwakye
2 hours -
GACL terminates Fixed Base Operation agreement with McDan Aviation over persistent debt
2 hours -
‘What exactly is the problem if Mahama uses his brother’s jet?’ – Kwakye Ofosu asks critics
3 hours -
I’ll be surprised if Ghanaians think Mahama using his brother’s jet comes at no cost to the state – Asafo-Adjei
3 hours -
PassionAir announces Kumasi route disruptions, apologises to passengers
3 hours -
Police dismantle armed robbery gang on Obuasi–Dunkwa highway
4 hours -
Ghana could face security risks amid international intelligence cooperation – Bosome Freho MP warns
4 hours