Miss Rwanda Escapes Jail Term, Receives Suspended Sentence for Drink-Driving

In a gripping turn of events, a Rwandan court has handed a three-month suspended sentence to a beauty queen for drink driving and operating a vehicle without a license.

Divine Muheto, the reigning Miss Rwanda, was also ordered to pay a fine of 190,000 Rwandan francs ($140; £109). Last month, Ms. Muheto’s night took a dangerous detour when she crashed her vehicle into an electricity pylon and a palm tree while returning home from a bar in Kigali, according to the New Times.

Initially, reports suggested she fled the scene, but the court acquitted her of that particular charge. Neither Ms. Muheto nor the prosecution—who had pressed for a two-year prison sentence—attended the court session.

Following an 18-day stint in police custody, the judge commanded her immediate release. It remains uncertain if the prosecution will appeal this decision.

Ms. Muheto, the daughter of Assistant Commissioner of Police Francis Muheto, has stayed silent on the matter. However, her legal team stated that she has shown remorse and sought forgiveness.

This incident is not an isolated case for the 21-year-old, as Rwandan police disclosed she has previously driven under the influence. Ms. Muheto captured national attention when she won the Miss Rwanda title in 2022. The pageant, however, has since been halted amid sexual misconduct allegations against its organizers.

In Rwanda, drink driving incurs a hefty fine of 150,000 Rwandan francs ($110; £85) and five days of detention—a law increasingly enforced, leading to the arrest of thousands in recent years.