Kigali – The organiser of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, Dieudonne Ishimwe, was on Friday found not guilty of sexually assaulting former contestants, a judge said, citing “insufficient evidence” and ordering his immediate release.
Ishimwe, a former musician popularly known as Prince Kid, was arrested in April on charges of rape, harassment and soliciting sexual favours, leading to the suspension of the pageant until investigations were completed.
On Friday, the presiding judge ruled that the “evidence provided by the prosecution was insufficient to render him guilty” and acquitted him.
The 36-year-old, who was not present in court, is the head of Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the company behind the annual pageant.
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His arrest came on the heels of an announcement that a former Miss Rwanda had resigned as communications director after four years with the company.
Miss Rwanda debuted in the global Miss World competition in 2016, according to its website.
It bills itself as the East African country’s leading beauty pageant.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/@prince__kid
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