The court has made the ruling today and requested the prosecution to investigate if the suspect has no sexually transmitted diseases.

The court explained that outcomes from investigations will help to determine the severity of the punishment if the suspect is found guilty.

If found guilty and if investigations show that the suspect has mental health problems, he will not be subject to any punishment but rather will be taken to health facilities for medical attention.

Article 85 of the Law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and punishments and stipulates that ‘a person is not liable to punishment if he/she had intellectual disabilities by the time he/she committed the crime’.

Outcomes from investigations will be heard on 14th January 2020.

Appearing in court at the previous hearing, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime and prosecution sought a life sentence for the 19-year-old man.

Prosecution said that defiled children are in the age bracket of 7 and 14 from Nyamabuye cell, Gatsata sector of Gasabo district where the suspect lives.

The suspect reportedly lured the boys with car toys he made.

The case went to the public when a child claimed to have suffered from anus pain and told grandmother that a neighbor who defiled him didn’t provide a promised toy.

Other victims revealed the truth that the case was reported to local leaders.

The suspect is alleged to have defiled the 17 children between August and October this year.

Children were taken to Isange One Stop Center at Kacyiru for medical attention.