Nyarugenge Primary Court has ordered popular disc jockey Arnaud de Bosscher Shema, widely known as DJ Toxxyk, to remain in custody for 30 days as prosecutors continue investigations into a fatal road accident that killed a police officer late last year.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by the Nyarugenge Primary Court, followed a closely watched bail hearing in which judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Shema may have committed several of the offences he is accused of.
Prosecutors told the court that the incident happened in the early hours of December 21, at around 4:00 a.m., along Sopetrade Road, where roadworks were underway. They allege that Shema struck police officer Fred Mushabe, who was on duty directing traffic, killing him on the spot.
According to the prosecution, Shema abandoned his vehicle near ONOMO Hotel and fled the scene immediately after the crash.
He is facing charges of manslaughter, fleeing the scene of an accident, and drug-related offences.
In its decision, the court noted that Shema admitted during the bail hearing to two of the charges; manslaughter and leaving the scene; a point judges said weighed heavily against granting him provisional release.
On the allegation of drug use, the court said Shema had confessed during the investigation. Judges also pointed to evidence presented by prosecutors showing that hybrid cannabis was discovered at his home and that Shema signed a document acknowledging its recovery. Local authorities in his neighbourhood also reported that he is known to use marijuana.
However, the court dismissed one accusation; that Shema refused to submit to an alcohol test; saying prosecutors failed to provide evidence proving such refusal.
Prosecutors argued that keeping the accused in detention was necessary, citing the seriousness of the charges, the risk that he could evade justice, and the fact that investigations are still ongoing.
Taking the stand in his defence, Shema told the court he had dozed off while driving and lost control of the vehicle after hitting a pavement. He said the crash happened so suddenly that he was unable to regain control.
He admitted leaving the scene but said he acted out of fear and shock. After the incident, he travelled to Karongi District to seek advice from a friend, who later contacted authorities on his behalf.
Shema told the court that he acted out of fear in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
Shema strongly denied the drug-related charge, insisting he neither possessed nor used cannabis. He argued that he did not have access to his house at the time investigators claimed to have found the drugs, saying the search was conducted three days after his arrest.
He also accused investigators of pressuring him to sign statements without giving him enough time to read them, claiming some of the recorded statements did not accurately reflect what he had said.
On the allegation that he was driving under the influence, his lawyers said Shema was tested several times but that no laboratory results were presented in court. Without those results, they argued, there was no basis to conclude he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
The case remains under investigation as Shema awaits his next court appearance.
