Kicukiro primary court on Wednesday, May 25 granted bail to Elsa Iradukunda, Miss Rwanda 2017, after prosecution withdrew their case on pre-trial detention. Iradukunda is being pinned on various charges which include, influencing assistants in judicial organs, giving false testimony as well as use of forged documents. Pronouncing the ruling, the presiding judge said the prosecution had withdrawn the case after considering it unnecessary to prosecute the accused while detained. “During the bail hearing, the prosecution requested to grant her bail arguing that, based on the written accounts from Rwanda Investigation Bureau made by Iradukunda, they want to withdraw their case on pre-trial detention,” he said. In addition, he pointed out that Iradukunda and her lawyer also agreed on granting her bail for her to continue with her studies, among other reasons. The presiding judge said that after examining the defences and requests of both sides, the court resolved to grant her bail and ruled to release her as the trial continues. Both Iradukunda and her lawyer were present in court. Iradukunda’s lawyer welcomes the decision Speaking to The New Times after the bail ruling, Lawyer Rafael Nyamaswa said that they are happy with the court’s decision, adding that justice was served. “My client was detained for some time. But now we are glad that the prosecution, after evaluating the level of investigation, and how she has been cooperative, decided to withdraw their case on detention and she will be prosecuted out of jail,” he said. In addition, he said that this is a good gesture and urged people to believe in the country’s justice. Nyamaswa further said that they are ready to proceed with a substantial trial and hope to win the case as well. Iradukunda appeared before the court for the first time on May 24, to seek bail where a bail hearing was heard in camera (closed to the public) upon her lawyer’s request. She was arrested on May 8, and was detained a few days after the arrest of Dieudonne Ishimwe, commonly known as Prince Kid, the CEO of Rwanda Inspiration Back-Up—an organisation that used to organise the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant.
