Miss Rwanda Winner Receives Suspended Sentence for Driving Offenses

Divine Muheto, the winner of the most recent Miss Rwanda pageant, has been handed a three-month suspended sentence by a Rwandan court for offenses including drink-driving and operating a vehicle without a licence. She was also ordered to pay a fine of 190,000 Rwandan francs ($140; £109). The incident occurred last month when Ms Muheto’s vehicle collided with an electricity pylon and a palm tree as she was returning home from a bar in Kigali, the capital city, as reported by the local news outlet The New Times. Although an initial statement alleged she had fled the scene, the court cleared her of this accusation. Neither Ms Muheto nor the prosecution, which had requested a two-year prison sentence, attended the court hearing. Following 18 days spent in police custody, the judge mandated her immediate release. The possibility of the prosecution appealing the judgment remains uncertain. Ms Muheto, whose father is Assistant Commissioner of Police Francis Muheto, has not issued a public statement regarding the event. However, her legal representatives state that she has conveyed remorse and sought forgiveness. According to police in the East African nation, this marks at least the second instance of the 21-year-old driving while intoxicated. She gained prominence in Rwanda after securing victory in the national beauty contest in 2022. The competition itself has not taken place since her win, having been suspended by the government following accusations of sexual misconduct directed at its organizers. In Rwanda, the offense of drink-driving typically incurs a fine of 150,000 Rwandan francs ($110; £85) and a period of five days in police custody. Over the past few years, thousands of individuals have been apprehended for this offense, reflecting increased law enforcement efforts by the police.