The Kicukiro Primary Court in Kigali has ordered a 30-day remand for vlogger Jean Bosco Sengabo, commonly known as Fatakumavuta, pending trial in substance on multiple charges related to his online content.
The 37-year-old former radio presenter turned YouTuber faces six charges including spreading false information, defamation, drug abuse, and issuing cyber threats.
In delivering the bail ruling on Wednesday, November,6 the presiding judge indicated that there were reasonable grounds to suspect Sengabo of the alleged crimes. The judge ruled for his remand, noting that he has five days to appeal the court’s decision.
According to the prosecution, several public figures, including musicians Benjamin Mugisha (The Ben) and Medard Jobert Ngabo (Meddy), as well as music promoter Alex Muyoboke, filed complaints with the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), accusing Sengabo of spreading false information about them and publicizing their private lives.
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During the bail hearing, the court also heard that RIB had previously warned Sengabo to cease his behavior, yet he allegedly continued, declaring he would not respond to RIB’s summons.
Prosecutors added that, upon his arrest, Sengabo tested positive for significant levels of cannabis.
However, in his defense in the court on Tuesday, November 5, he argued that the complaints from the said public figures reached RIB only three days prior to his arrest on October 18, with the exception of The Ben's complaint. He claimed that RIB moved to arrest him hastily without first summoning him for questioning, suggesting "a possible personal bias.”
He further claimed he was mistreated during detention, saying he was forced to spend a night in a cell with water on the floor.
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Sengabo defended the factual basis of his content, stating that he had evidence to support his claims. For instance, he cited a case where he reported on a celebrity's unpaid rent, asserting the report was accurate. He also alleged that a public figure once requested negative publicity from him to boost their popularity.
On the drug-related charges, Sengabo questioned the reliability of the tests conducted, calling for independent re-testing to verify the results.
Meanwhile, hours before Fatakumavuta’s ruling, The Ben pleaded for his release, despite being the target of his online content.
The Ben acknowledged the harm caused by the vlogger’s actions but appealed for understanding, suggesting that everyone deserves a chance to "stumble and renew” and, in an Instagram post to his 930,000+ Instagram followers, the musician expressed his support for the idea of "justice tempered with mercy,” emphasizing themes of forgiveness and personal growth.