Ngendambazi was arrested Sunday, March 6, at about 2pm in Majanja Village, Kabukuba Cell, Juru Sector with assorted electricity equipment, including a prop and a fombox used to support pylons.
The Eastern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamduni Twizeyimana, said that Ngendambazi is allegedly part of the group that vandalize power lines in the area.
He added that he was reported by the company connecting electricity and other power infrastructure in the area.
“An employee of Kala Telecom Company Limited, which is distributing electricity in the zone saw two people, who were carrying parts of pylons stolen from one of the vandalized power lines, and called the Police. Ngendambazi was arrested red-handed but his accomplice managed to flee,” SP Twizeyimana said.
SP Twizeyimana warned individuals, who vandalize public infrastructure, affect public service, leads the government into losses to rehabilitate the destroyed infrastructure.
Ngendambazi was handed over to RIB at Rilima station for further investigation while the search for his accomplice is still underway.
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 Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million
In article 166, 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 Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six months or only one of these penalties.
However, in article 167, the penalty doubles if the crime was committed at night or by more than one person.
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