Rwanda National Police

Police in Kirehe District arrested one Emmanuel Hakizimana, 32, for allegedly vandalizing electricity infrastructure and stealing lightning rods.

Hakizimana was arrested red-handed in Gatore Sector, Cyunuzi Cell, where he was found digging up electric rods.

He was also found with other metals and tubes, which he allegedly stole from pylons, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for the Eastern region.

“Residents in Gatore have been reporting these acts of vandalising electric infrastructure, and suspected Hakizimana to be behind them" CIP Twizeyimana said.

He added: "In the morning of October 19, a resident called the Police after seeing Hakizimana vandalising pylons. Police officers found him unearthing lightening rods but had already cut other metals and tubes from other pylons."

Hakizimana was also recently reported by Rwanda Energy Group (REG) officials in Kirehe, who had found him unearthing lightening rods from pylons.

At the time, Hakizimana escaped from the REG officials, who tried to apprehend and hand him over to law enforcement organs.

The spokesperson lauded the support of Kirehe community policing partners, who disclosed the destruction and facilitated the arrest of the prime suspect.

Hakizimana was handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) for further legal process.

According to article 182 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, “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/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three (3) years and not more than five (5) years with a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.