RWAMAGANA - Three men suspected of raping underage girls are being held at Rwamagana Police Station.

Jean Claude Nsabimana, Eric Byuma and Francois Mpazimpaka were arrested in separate incidences  after a tip off by residents recently. 

Nsabimana, a retired corporal is said to have been caught red-handed raping a 17-year old girl, while Byuma allegedly raped a 9 –year old child.

Local residents say the third suspect, Mpazimpaka, has been issuing death threats to his alleged victim. 

Speaking from the police station, however, all the suspects denied the allegations.

"I was caught in the house of the girl. I never knew that she was under age.

If anything, I ought to be released as a free man and instead the accuser should be brought before court to answer charges of prostitution,” Nsabimana pleaded. 

On his part Byuma, feigned mental disability and demanded his immediate release. 

"I had agreed with the girl but they caught us and brought me here,” he said.

Mpazimpaka denied the charges, claiming that some people were trying to blackmail him. 

"I found the girl they are talking about in bed with a certain man. When I threatened to report her to her mother, she  conceived this plan of claiming that she was raped.”

Police say they are waiting for medical reports to ascertain the rape  claims.

"A medical confirmation is needed in such cases. A doctor who took some specimen will reveal his report, to pave way for prosecution,” security officials said. 

Domestic violence and rape/defilement still feature among common crimes in the province generally, and Rwamagana District in particular.

Residents say many cases go unreported.

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