Miss Rwanda pageant organiser Dieudonné Ishimwe, widely known as Prince Kid, was arrested by police on April 25th, 2022, and tried by a court in Kigali on May 13th 2022.
Ishimwe stands accused of rape, soliciting or offering sexual favours, and harassment against the pageant contesters.
His arrest ends a decade of public demands for an investigation into accusations of sexual harassment.
Citing moral reasons due to the sexual nature of the case, the prosecutor requested the trial to be held in secret to protect the witnesses.
Ishimwe objected, requesting that the hearing should be open “for the public to follow and know the outcome”, reports BBC Africa.
The Rwanda Inspiration Backup, which is the official body organising the national event and headed by Ishimwe as its Chief Executive, has been barred from continuing with this event and will likely be replaced.
“The Ministry of Youth and Culture informs the general public that the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant has been suspended pending completion of investigations," Rwanda’s culture ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The scandal came to light only after Miss Rwanda, Nshuti Divine Muheto, spoke up and shared a recording of Ishimwe soliciting sexual favours.
Rwanda Investigations Bureau (RIB) also arrested Miss Rwanda 2017 winner Elsa Iradukunda for allegedly using forged documents to obstruct the ongoing investigations and manipulating victims who testified against Ishimwe.