{Rwanda National Police (RNP), yesterday, handed over a vehicle to Kenyan authorities, which was recovered late last year in Rusizi District as it crossed to Rwanda from DR Congo. }
The vehicle Toyota Land cruiser valued at US$44, 000, was reported sold in DRC after it was stolen from the Kenyan town of Nakuru in April last year.
It was intercepted at Rusizi border in December last year as it crossed to Rwanda in transit to Burundi, where the buyer was apparently taking it for mechanical repair.
The vehicle was at the time bearing Congolese number plate.
The buyer of this stolen vehicle, a Congolese national identified as Zagabe Cikangafu, at the time tried to bribe Police officers at the border with US$700, but was instead arrested for attempted bribery.
Zagabe was late last month handed a six-year jail term and a fine of $2, 800 by a Rusizi court, after it found him guilty of bribery.
Pastor Michael Nieswand, working with the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness based in Nakuru, the owner of the recovered vehicle, in a special message to RNP, said that the car was stolen by armed robbers, on April 30, after they guised as buyers, before exporting it to DRC.
“Immediately after one of the thieves crossed to Rwanda, your professional and faithful officers arrested him and recovered the vehicle. I highly honour and appreciate the very professional and dedicated Police Force of Rwanda and specialty of your very outstanding Interpol department,” Pastor Nieswand’s message reads in part.
It adds: “I am very humbled and extremely grateful to the lord. I wish to officially express my heartfelt thanks to the very honourable government of Rwanda and the most excellent and faithful Police force for returning our car. May the Lord bless the precious nation of Rwanda.”
Sergeant Chris Mmbwanga, attached to Interpol Nairobi, who received the vehicle, commended the cooperation between Rwanda and Kenya forces, especially in tackling cross-border crimes.
“Rwanda is home-away-from-home to Kenyans and we appreciate Rwanda’s quick response when we call,” Mmbwanga said.
“Car theft in Kenya is common, with most of them taken to neighbouring countries that are not stable. But through such cooperation, we believe such cross-border crimes can be combated,” he added.
Police spokesperson, Chief Supt. Celestin Twahirwa pledged RNP continued response and cooperation with other forces to fight crimes.
“Rwanda can’t be a destination or transit for either criminals or stolen goods and RNP stands committed to working with other regional and international players in policing to respond to security challenges, which are transnational in nature,” CSP Twahirwa said.
This is the fourth vehicle intercepted in Rwanda since December last year. Two of the recovered vehicles, also stolen from Kenya were handed over to authorities, last mother.
Also recovered is a Range Rover Sport V8, said to have been stolen from the United Kingdom.
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