Kigali: Seven people were arrested separately in Giheke Sector of Rusizi District for allegedly stealing cement meant for the building of classroms under 12-Year Basic Education programme.
They were arrested in two separate operations in connection with the theft of cement at Rwera school construction site in Ntura cell, according to the Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi.
“On August 30, three men; Thomas Bakundukize, 33, Alexiane Mukaniyonsenga, 30, and Zachée Hakizimana, 42, were caught selling 10 sacs of cement which they had stolen from the school.
In the second operation conducted on September 11, one Marc Munyarukiko and Jean Paul Ngizwenayo, the school gatekeeper were arrested. They had just sold 15 bags of cement. They were arrested alongside their customers; Vianney Mukeshimana and Damascene Nganabera, who had just bought the cement,” CIP Karekezi said.
All the operations were a success because of community policing partners, who worked with the Police to identify the suspected thieves and recover the bags of cement, according to CIP Karekezi.
“Local residents saw these people selling cement, and out of suspicion they shared information with the Police. We worked with local leaders to arrest them and recover the stolen cement.”
He called upon the residents to jelously protect such materials meant for the construction of public infrastructure.
“The classrooms under construction are for Rwandan children, but if certain people are stealing some of the materials, the end goal could not be achieved,” he added.
He commended the residents who shared the information and encouraged everyone else to not turn a blind eye to crimes, but instead report them to those in charge.
All the arrested were taken to COVID-19 isolation centres where they will be tested in order for the next legal steps to be taken.
Article 166 of law nº68/2018 in the law relating to offences and penalties in general states that “any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, a community service in a period of six months or only one of these penalties. (End)