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Kinyarwanda
Police in Rulindo District have arrested eight people for allegedly vandalizing and stealing electricity and water infrastructure.
They were arrested in two separate operations conducted on Friday, July 1, in Base and Mbogo sectors.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga said that two people were arrested in Base Sector, Rwamahwa Cell in Base Village with electricity cables of about 60 metres, which they allegedly cut from the power line connecting Groupe Scolaire Ngarama to the national grid.
"Police also impounded a motorcycle registration number RG 255J, which the two suspects arrested in Base Sector were using to transport the vandalized and stolen public infrastructure," SP Ndayisenga said.
"The six other people were apprehended in Mbogo Sector, Mushali Cell, Rwambogo Village with water pipes of about 200 metres which they stole after cutting water pipes connecting communities. They were transporting the pipes in a vehicle registration number RAE 636 I, which was also impounded," he added.
One of the suspects identified as Semana Gerard had allegedly contracted four others to cut and steal water pipes, which he was selling to one Mukurira Valens, who has a hardware store in Kacyiru, Gasabo District, and yet to be arrested.
SP Ndayisenga said that the operations were informed by complaints by residents about people, who were destroying electricity and water lines to steal cables and pipes especially at night, causing power outage and cutting off water supply.
The suspects were handed over to RIB for further investigations.
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/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 three million Rwandan francs (FRW 3,000,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000,000).
