The Kicukiro Primary Court on Thursday, October 31, commenced the trial of Miss Rwanda 2022 Divine Muheto who is facing charges related to drink-driving as well as damaging infrastructure and fleeing after causing an accident.

The prosecutor on Thursday told court that after Muheto knocked an electricity pole and a palm tree on October 24, police conducted an alcohol test, which revealed her blood alcohol level was significantly high.

ALSO READ: Miss Rwanda 2022 Muheto to appear in court on Thursday

Rwanda National Police on October 30 confirmed the arrest of Muheto over alleged driving without a license, driving under the influence of alcohol, damaging public infrastructure, and fleeing the scene.

ALSO READ: Miss Rwanda 2022 Divine Muheto arrested

It was not the first time the beauty queen had been involved in such offenses, police said in a post on X.

Following her arrest, a case file was submitted to prosecution for further legal proceedings, before it was transferred to Kicukiro Primary Court for the hearing.

No alcohol is the best choice, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa warned in its message on World No Alcohol Day, on October 2. Health professionals have raised concerns over the growing number of people consuming alcohol in Rwanda, following a survey conducted by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). The survey revealed that alcohol consumption in the country increased from 41 percent in 2013 to 48 percent in 2022.

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In a post on X urging people to choose health over alcohol, the WHO African Region also noted that: "Younger people are disproportionately affected by alcohol consumption, with the largest portion of alcohol-attributable deaths among those aged 20-39.”