Shema appeared before the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on September 17, 2026, to appeal a decision by the Nyarugenge Primary Court ordering his 30-day pre-trial detention.

His lawyer, Niyomugabo Christophe, told the court that Shema had signed an agreement with the Prosecution. The prosecutor confirmed the agreement, saying it remained to be submitted to the court.

The judge adjourned the hearing to September 23, 2026. Shema was arrested on August 11, 2026, and is charged with issuing uncovered cheques worth $600,000 (about Rwf883.5 million) and obtaining another person’s property through fraud.

The case stems from a contract worth more than €1 million between Africa Medical Supplier Plc, a company owned by Shema that deals in medical equipment, and ABZL International General Trading LLC. The agreement, signed on January 23, 2024, was linked to World Bank procurement for the supply of medical equipment to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Under the agreement, Africa Medical Supplier was required to pay ABZL within 60 days. The prosecution told the court that the company failed to meet the payment deadline and repeatedly delayed ABZL before eventually promising to settle the outstanding amount by email.

On August 5, 2025, Shema allegedly issued ABZL two cheques worth $400,000 and $200,000. The prosecution said the cheques were dishonoured because the company’s account did not have sufficient funds between August 1 and 10, 2025.

Shema denied the charges, saying ABZL was a financial services company based in the United Arab Emirates with which he had maintained business relations since 2017. He said their previous contracts had been successfully completed.

He told the court that Africa Medical Supplier had paid $400,000 in May 2024 and another $400,000 in December 2024, but that the second payment could not be completed because of an issue with ABZL’s account. He said the contract required ABZL to provide an alternative account in such circumstances.

Shema also said a dispute between ABZL shareholders led one of them to take the cheques, add payment instructions and request that the money be paid into a US bank account. He questioned why cheques originally intended for payment in Dubai would be redirected to the United States.

Shema maintained that he would not flee if released and told the court that he owns assets worth more than Rwf5 billion that could be used as security.

His defence counsel challenged the validity and handling of the cheques, arguing that the bank had cancelled them on July 16, 2025, before the alleged offence date of August 5. The lawyer also pointed to a change in the payment destination from the UAE to a US bank account on June 25, 2025.

The defence asked the court to grant Shema bail, arguing that the dispute arose from a commercial contract rather than a personal criminal matter.

In its September 2 ruling, the Nyarugenge Primary Court said that if Shema believed there had been fraud involving the payment arrangements, he should have reported it so the person responsible could be investigated.

Shema appealed the 30-day pre-trial detention order, arguing that he should be allowed to await further proceedings outside prison.