Police in Kirehe District is holding six men who were arrested in connection with series of cattle theft in the district.
Among the suspects in police custody include two men identified as Phocas Sikubwabo and Emmanuel Ngabo who were caught red-handed on June 15 with three stolen cows.
The friesian cows belonged to one Theogene Bizimungu and had been stolen from his kraal the previous night.
According to the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the arrest of the two suspects on June 15 led the police to the whereabouts of the other four other members of the ring.
“The two suspects were attempting to take the cows to Tanzania but the sailors who saw them hurriedly called the police and they were arrested before crossing; we have since returned the cows to the owner,” said IP Kayigi.
He thanked and urged the residents on borderlines to maintain the spirit and always report anything suspicious to prevent any likely crime and arrest culprits.
Upon receiving his cows Bizimungu thanked the police for returning his cows and arresting the suspects.
The other four suspects, who are alleged to have been part of several cattle theft in the district, were identified as David Sabina, Joram Pesayidi, Emmanuel Nkurunziza, and Japhet Habyarimana alias stamina.
They are all held at Kirehe police station as investigations proceeds. They are accused of being behind series of cattle theft in Kirehe.
A total of having stolen 103 cows in Nyamugali, Mahama and Nyarubuye sectors over the years of which 53 of them have so far been recovered and given back to rightful owners, according to police in Kirehe.
IP Kayigi reminded residents of the Eastern province to always provide timely information so that police can intervene in time to recover the stolen livestock.
“We appeal to residents to enhance neighbourhood watch and Irondo – night patrols – which have played a vital role in crime detection and prevention.”
The suspects risk a jail sentence of up to two years if found guilty as stipulated by article 300 of the penal code.
The article states that, “Any person who commits theft without violence or threat shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of two to five times the value of the stolen property or one of these penalties.”
Leave a Reply