Rwanda National Police

Three suspected thieves were arrested on Wednesday, December 30, in Nyagatare District with assorted music instruments and other items, which were stolen from Eagle Evangelical Ministries in Nyagatare.

The suspected thieves are identified as Joseph Twagirayezu, Emmanuel Niyokwizerwa and Japhet Mugiraneza.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that at about 5am on Wednesday, local security patrol--Irondo--while on duty, encountered a group of men with unidentified things, which they dropped down in an attempt to flee.

"Irondo personnel went after them and managed to apprehend two of them; Japhet Mugiraneza and Emmanuel Niyokwizerwa. When they searched the luggage they had dropped they found a synthesizer, an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals; two mixers, two wireless microphones, a wall clock and two mats," CIP Twizeyimana said.

He added that following the arrest of the two suspects, they disclosed that they stole the items from Eagle Evangelical Ministries, where the third suspect, Joseph Twagirayezu was also arrested.

Twagirayezu is a security guard at the church, who allegedly connived with Mugiraneza, Niyokwizerwa and others who managed to escape, to steal from the church.

"The three arrested suspects have been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Nyagatare station but the search for their accomplices is still underway," CIP Twizeyimana said.

In article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, any person convicted for 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 Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.

However, in article 167, the penalty doubles if the theft was carried out by more than one person or at night