Prosecutors in Rwanda are requesting 16 years in prison for Dieudonné Kagame Ishimwe, the Rwanda beauty pageant organiser accused of sexual abuse.
Ishimwe’s trial commenced Wednesday, but a judge immediately decided it would be held behind closed doors despite the defendant’s wish for it to be open to the public.
Ishimwe is accused of soliciting or offering sexual favours and harassing some contestants in the Miss Rwanda contest, charges which he has repeatedly denied.
Ishimwe was apprehended in May after one of the beauty contestants made the accusations against him. The authorities have since suspended the pageant.
