The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed the arrest of Dr Jean de Dieu Maniriho for allegedly defiling and later murdering 17-year-old Emerence Iradukunda in Musanze District. 

Maniriho, a dentist at Mpore Clinic—a private clinic in Musanze—is also suspected to have attempted to perform an abortion on Iradukunda after it emerged that he had impregnated her.

Thierry Murangira, the Acting Spokesperson of RIB, told The New Times that the suspect was arrested on November 9.

According to Murangira, residents of Gacaca Village, Kagiro Sector in Musanze District discovered Iradukunda’s dead body, without clothes, on November 2. It was then rushed to Ruhengeri for an autopsy. She was later buried.

However, two days after the burial, her family agreed with authorities that there was a need for deeper investigations including DNA tests. Her body was then exhumed, transferred to Rwanda Forensic Lab where DNA tests were carried out.

"This was done in co-operation between the victim’s family and authorities,” Murangira said. "Primary investigations indicate that she was impregnated, which could have triggered Maniriho’s ambition to kill her.”

Murangira claims that the suspect has already confessed to having attempted an abortion on the victim. 

The suspect is detained at Muhoza police station, but RIB says investigations are ongoing to establish whether there are other suspects involved.

Upon conviction of murder, the suspect is liable to life imprisonment. 

Similarly, upon conviction of defilement charges, the suspect is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than twenty years and not more than twenty-five years.

Meanwhile, any person who is convicted of performing an abortion on another person is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years.