Huye, March 6, 2026 – Prosecutors at the Intermediate Court of Huye have requested a 20-year prison sentence for Joël Nzayisenga, a man who was preparing for his wedding but is accused of defiling a 16-year-old girl and impregnating her.
The hearing, held on March 3, was presided over by a single judge and a court registrar. Nzayisenga appeared in court with his lawyer, Me Jean Paul Mpayimana, as the case was fast-tracked due to his admission of guilt.
Nzayisenga is accused of sexual relations with the minor, resulting in a child born in 2021, despite his arrest occurring only in 2026. The alleged incident took place in Nkomero Village, Mpanga Cell, Mukingo Sector, Nyanza District.
In court, Nzayisenga admitted to the act but claimed that the relationship was consensual. He told the judge, “We were in a relationship, and it was not forced; it was mutual.”
His lawyer, Me Mpayimana, argued that while Nzayisenga fathered the child, the relationship lacked criminal intent. He added that the minor had assisted Nzayisenga and that the child had been registered with civil authorities, emphasizing that his client had been raising the child responsibly.
The prosecution, however, maintained that Nzayisenga knowingly engaged in an illegal act, fully aware that the law prohibits sexual relations with a minor. They urged the court to uphold the charges, citing the child’s welfare and the need for justice.
Nzayisenga, now 22 years old and detained at the RIB Busasamana Station in Nyanza, requested the court consider a suspended or reduced sentence to allow him to continue caring for his child. The court is expected to deliver its verdict in the coming days.
