Kicukiro Primary Court granted bail to Pastor Jean Bosco Harerimana of Zeraphat Holy Church and his wife, Jeanne Mukansengiyumva, on Thursday, October 31.

The couple, facing charges of fraud, blackmail, and distributing pornographic material through digital platforms, was detained on October 9.

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Their previous hearing, on October 29, took place in camera following a request from the prosecution, which cited the sensitive nature of the case. During Thursday's verdict, the court permitted the bail after the couple provided their house, valued at an estimated Rwf60 million as collateral.

ALSO READ: RGB revokes legal personality of Zeraphat Holy Church

The hearing on October 24 was postponed at the defense's request, as they informed court that they had not yet reviewed the prosecution’s case file detailing the accusations. Harerimana also raised concerns regarding his confiscated cell phone, claiming it contained crucial evidence for his defense. He requested assistance from the court to retrieve the device from the prosecution.

In response, the prosecution acknowledged the couple's right to review the indictment for their defense but argued that the phone issue could be addressed out of court. They noted that Harerimana’s legal team could request access to the phone’s contents without needing its physical return, as it remains in investigative custody.

If convicted of fraud, Harerimana and Mukansengiyumva face potential prison sentences ranging from two to three years and fines between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million. On October 18, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) issued a statement announcing it had revoked Zeraphat Holy Church’s legal status, citing non-compliance with legal requirements.