The Kicukiro Primary court sentenced Dominique Ngabonziza, popularly known as Dr Nganji, one of the pioneers of the Kinyatrap sub-genre and the brains behind the Green Ferry Music record label, to a one-year suspended sentence for drug abuse.

Nganji was arrested on October 16, alongside his two friends, Blaise Gatsinda Shema and Aury Chris Dukuze, after being found with Cannabis, also known as marijuana.

Also Read: Why producer Dr. Nganji got arrested

The renowned producer and his friends were given a one-year suspended sentence after reaching a plea bargain.

Plea bargain is the practice of negotiating an agreement between the prosecution and the defence, whereby the defendant pleads guilty to charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence or other possibilities that may even include dismissal of the charges.

During the hearing, which took place on Thursday, 2 November, the court confirmed that it had accepted a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and the three individuals, sentencing them to one year's probation and ordering their immediate release from prison, where they have been held for the past three weeks.

Dr. Nganji is credited to be the pioneer of a subgenre of trap music called "Kinyatrap", a local variation of Trap Music, in which local artistes rap in Kinyarwanda over trap melodies.

ALSO READ: Inside the rise of Kinyatrap, first rap sub-genre by young Rwandan musicians

Some of his past light works include Bushali's debut album ‘Nyiramubande’ and "After Doze", an album that he produced in 2019.