English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) commends the role of the public in fighting vandalism of utility infrastructure.
Scores of vandals have been arrested in different parts of the country and quantities of stolen utility equipment recovered.
Early this month, RNP impounded a truck transporting about 1.5 tonnes of electrical cables suspected to have been stolen from power lines.
In the latest operation, the Police, while reacting to information provided by residents, arrested another 24-year old man in Kagali village, Nyabishambi cell, Shangasha sector in Gicumbi district; suspected of vandalising electricity lines and stealing cables and wires.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Jean Bosco Mwumvaneza, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that the suspect was found in possession with a roll of cables stolen from electricity lines.
“Police in Gicumbi was receiving information from residents people who vandalize electricity lines causing power outage," said SP Mwumvaneza said.
He added: "Residents also had information on someone, whom they suspected to be behind this vandalism, leading to his arrest and receiving a roll of cables which he was allegedly cutting from people's homes and electricity poles."
Article 182 of the law determining offences and penalties, states that any person, who maliciously demolishes or damages in any way, in whole or in part of construction, building, bridge, dams, water pipes and their routes, railway rails or any other means of communication or electric power infrastructure, wells or any other constructions, which do not belong to him/her, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years with a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.
