Miss Rwanda 2022 Divine Nshuti Muheto has been handed a three-month suspended sentence by the Kicukiro Primary Court after being found guilty of drunk driving and driving without a permit.

Muheto was also fined Rwf190,000 (over $139) but was absolved of fleeing the scene after the accident in a verdict that occurred on Wednesday, 6 November, at the Kicukiro Primary Court.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) affirmed the arrest of Muheto on 29 October after she crashed into a street light pole on October 20 while driving home from the ‘Atelier du Vin' pub under the influence of excessive alcohol.

The court lowered the sentence that the prosecution had requested based on the fact that Muheto expressed remorse and pleaded guilty.

The prosecution had asked the court to hand Muheto a one-year-and-eight-month sentence in jail, one year for fleeing the scene after the incident, six months for drunk driving, and two months for driving without a license.

It is not the first time Muheto, who won the most recent Miss Rwanda pageant, has committed such a traffic infraction.

Muheto was also engaged in a car crash in September 2023 when she struck a building located in Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District. She suffered a minor eye injury, but her car was awfully destroyed.

With Muheto being handed a three-month suspended sentence, it means that she will not serve her time in prison. However, it might be inflicted on her if she commits the same offence within a period of one year.

In Rwanda, driving or riding is prohibited if the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.8 millilitres.