The Gasabo Intermediate Court on Tuesday, December 29, ordered prosecution to examine the mental health state of a 19 year-old man suspected of defiling 17 young boys at different times in Gasabo district.

Prosecution was also asked to ascertain whether the suspect does not have any sexually transmitted disease, which if confirmed that he does would aggravate his penalty.

Both exercises will, according to the court, determine the court’s verdict on the case.

Concerning the outcomes from the mental health assessment, in case the suspect is found to be mentally ill, he will not face any penalty, but will be committed to a mental facility.

According to the criminal procedure, the mental instability of a suspect erodes their culpability to a crime.

Court will reconvene on January 14 to hear the findings of both assessments, the judge ruled.

Meanwhile, prosecution had previously requested for a life sentence to the suspect.

The 19 year-old has pleaded guilty of the allegations.

According to the prosecution, defiled children are aged between 7 and 14, and the suspect allegedly used toys to lure the young boys into having sex with him.

Between August and October, the 19 year-old had already defiled 17 boys.  

Reports say that the suspect had dropped out of school in 2015 and started fabricating toys which he sometimes would sell in the neighbourhood and beyond.

Like his victims, he is a resident of Nyamabuye cell in Gatsata sector, Gasabo district.

A grandmother of one of the victims told The New Times last week that they discovered the atrocities when the child who is in primary two, complained of pain in the rectum, saying that a man in the neighbourhood had molested him and refused to give him a toy he had promised.

On the same day that other children from the same village also reported about the same issue with the same man, which prompted parents of these victims to inform local leaders and security personnel.

During the substantive trial, the court heard that the suspect would first use cream on them before inserting his organ in their anus, and the suspect admitted to doing so.

All the children were later taken –in company of their parents – to Kacyiru Isange One Stop Centre where they were tested and offered physiological support.

According to the penal law, defilement is punishable with imprisonment between 20 years and lifetime.

Latest figures show that in the first six months of 2020 some 2,157 cases of defilement have been reported to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

RIB said that while 3,152 cases were reported in 2018 and 3,623 in 2019, there were indications that the number this year would most likely be higher.