Bwishyura Primary Court in Karongi District on Thursday remanded, for 30 days, John Peter Rwema, the executive director of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR), for alleged rape. Rwema was arrested on October 17 after a 28-year-old woman lodged a complaint that he had raped her in a hotel the night before. After the hearing, that was held in camera, court ruled that the accused should be remanded for 30 days. Reading the ruling, the presiding judge dismissed as baseless claims by the suspect that the victim was dressed in a provocative way when she entered his hotel room, prompting him to rape her. The judge said the suspect could escape from justice if granted bail. The judge said the testimony by a witness called Nelson Ngirimana directly pins the suspect, as the latter told the court that he heard the woman scream and call for help. The court ruling was delivered in public despite proceedings having been held in camera. The victim had allegedly travelled to Karongi from Kigali to attend a workshop organised by AMIR. Article 197 of the Penal Code says that any person who rapes a person aged 18 years or above will be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five years to seven years. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
