Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed having in its custody the entire Executive Committee of Kiruhura Village from Cyanzarwe Sector in Rubavu District for allegedly protecting a suspect who defiled and impregnated an underage girl from the area.

The grassroots officials were arrested alongside the father of the victim, RIB said.

The detained include François Niyigaba—the Village Chief, Pierre Célestin Niyonzima, the Agriculture Officer, Gilbert Ntizihabose—the Economic Development Officer as well as David Hakizimana, the Security Officer.

The investigation bureau said that they are suspected of initiating mediation talks between the victim’s family and the perpetrator in a criminal offence.  

RIB encouraged citizens to timely share information regarding these criminal acts so that culprits are brought to book.

The Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) welcomed the development stressing that arresting the officials and a parent who allegedly concealed a defilement case was the right step in the journey towards bringing to book whoever involved in defilement.

 "It is important that every Rwandan understands that defilement is a burly crime which is punishable by laws – concealment is against the law as well,” GMO tweeted

Speaking to The New Times, Rubavu District mayor revealed that beside the village officials from Cyanzarwe Sector who were arrested over concealment of defilement, there were other grassroots officials from other areas in the district who were also being investigated over the same case.

"It is unfortunate that a public official covers up a culprit for any crime; as we speak investigations are going on other grassroots officials in our district who allegedly concealed defilement cases,” He said without other details in a bid to no interfere with investigations.

This case comes at the time civil society organisations have raised an alarm, saying that efforts to reduce early pregnancies among underage girls are being undermined by parents who opt for out of court settlement with offenders instead of seeking legal redress.

Article 243 of the Penal Code stipulates that non-disclosure of a felony or misdemeanor when one is able to do so is an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and not more than one year and a fine of not less than Rwf 100,000 and not more than Rwf 300,000.

When this failure to disclose this offence led to its commission or failure to disclose the commission of the offence resulted into negative consequences, the penalty is imprisonment for a term of more than one year and not more than two years and a fine of more than Rwf 300,000 and not more than Rwf 500,000.

The article continues to say that if the offense is about to be committed or has been committed against a child, penalties are doubled.

A 2017 study by the umbrella body of Human Rights Organisations in Rwanda, CLADHO, showed that parents of 28.45 per cent of defiled and impregnated girls sought to mediate with the offenders, while only 8.5 per cent received justice.