Kicukiro Primary Court on Wednesday, November 6, sentenced Miss Rwanda 2022, Divine Nshuti Muheto, to a three-month suspended sentence and a Rwf 190,000 fine for drink-driving and driving without a license.
She was acquitted of fleeing the scene after causing an accident.
A suspended sentence is a sentence on conviction for a criminal offence, the serving of which the court orders to be deferred in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation. It is a legal arrangement in which a person who has been found guilty of a crime is not sentenced to jail but may be sentenced for that crime at a future time if he or she commits another crime during a specified period.
Delivering the verdict, the presiding judge said that Muheto was convicted of drunk driving and driving without a license but acquitted of fleeing the scene after causing an accident. The court ordered her immediate release following the ruling. Court heard that Muheto admitted to the two offenses during a previous hearing but the evidence did not support the charge of fleeing the scene.
In her defense, Muheto admitted to driving under the influence and causing damage to public infrastructure but denied fleeing the scene of the accident. Additionally, they highlighted her status as a student at the African Leadership University (ALU), stressing the importance of allowing her to continue her studies.
Muheto was crowned Miss Rwanda 2022, succeeding Grace Ingabire to the crown.
Court hands Miss Muheto three-month suspended sentence
