Miss Rwanda, Divine MuhetoMiss Rwanda, Divine Muheto has been arrested for drunk driving and driving without a licence.
Ms Muheto, who was crowned in 2022 but technically remains the crown holder because the pageant was suspended.
The beauty queen who was driving under the influence of alcohol was involved in a car accident, damaged “infrastructure” and then fled the scene.
Miss Rwanda Divine Muheto is facing a possible one year and eight months in jail after she was charged with traffic offences, including drunk driving, fleeing after causing an accident and damaging public infrastructure.
The police statement released does not say whether anybody was hurt in the incident.
It is not the first time the 21-year-old has driven under the influence of alcohol, police in the East African country added.
Ms Muheto has not publicly reacted to the arrest.
It was announced by the police on Tuesday, after days of speculation that she had been detained over a collision.
A court in capital city Kigali will begin hearing Ms Muheto’s case on Thursday, a prosecution spokesperson told local media.
Ms Muheto gained fame in Rwanda after she won the national beauty contest in 2022.The competition has not been held since – it was suspended by the government after sexual misconduct allegations were made against the organisers.
Drunk driving carries a fine of 150,000 Rwandan francs ($110; £85) and five days in police custody.
Thousands of people have been arrested for this crime in recent years as police have begun to enforce the law.
In 2022, a member of parliament apologised and resigned for drunk driving.
According to the government, the recent strict enforcement of traffic laws has significantly reduced the number of fatal road accidents in Rwanda.
Prosecution is seeking a one-year and eight-month jail term for Miss Divine Muheto: six months for drunk driving, two months for driving without a permit, and one year for fleeing after causing an accident.
The prosecutor told the court that after Muheto knocked an electricity pole and a palm tree on October 24.