Police in Rusizi District arrested Fidele Gashema, 32, for allegedly defiling his 12-year old daughter.
Gashema, a resident of Mushaka cell, Nzahaha Sector was reported by his spouse, who witnessed the inhuman act, after she was awakened by the victim’s groan in the middle of the night.
The victim’s mother told police that on the fateful day, at about 2:00am, she heard her daughter crying for help in the next room, only to be shocked to find her husband doing the despicable act, when she came for rescue.
The mother then called the neighbours and police, who intercepted the suspect as he tried to flee.
He is currently detained at Kamembe Police station.
The victim, who was taken to Gihundwe hospital for medical attention, said that her father had tried on several occasion to defile her, but in vain.
“He came into my room in the middle of the night as I was sleeping. I tried to run away from him but he over-powered me,” the victim said.
The victim confessed to the act, when asked by police.
Article 192 of Rwanda Penal code stipulates that if child defilement is committed by his/her parent or guardian, a representative of the administrative authority, a representative of the religious authority, a security officer, a medical professional, a teacher, a trainee or any person who have abused his/her position or authority over a child, the offender shall be liable to life imprisonment with special provisions and a fine of Rwf100, 000 to Rwf500, 000.
Superintendent Urbain Mwiseneza, the Western Region Police Spokesperson, condemned the criminal act describing it as “inhuman.”
He called upon the community, especially parents to allocate substantial time to their children to know what could be bothering them, noting that it will partly help to identify and prevent such despicable acts.
About 11 cases of defilement were reported in Rusizi between October and December, last year, police said.
Supt Mwiseneza also said that police and local authorities are conducting sensitization campaigns against crimes in the province, especially against Gender Based Violence and drug abuse.
“But we also held a meeting with residents of Nzahaha sector shortly after the incident and urged parents to be vigilant and watch over their children and to be friends with them not only to be just parents,” he said.
RNP
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