Sylvestre Bigenimana, Byanguhave and Mbarushimana were arrested on Sunday, April 10, in a cassiterite mining concession located in Rusebeya Sector, Remera Cell in Kabarerwa Village. The concession belongs to Better Generation Machinery Limited.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said the suspects were arrested after the mining firm reported the alleged theft of their minerals.
“The management of Better Generation Machinery Limited called the Police reporting people, who had entered into their concession to steal minerals.
In reaction to the information, Police arrested Bigenimana, Byanguhave and Mbarushimana in the concession with 38kgs of cassiterite,” SP Karekezi said.
He added that the trio belong to a group that either steals or conducts illegal mining in various concessions and in residents’ fields.
Illegal mining activities in Rutsiro are common in the sectors of Mukura, Rusebeya, Gihango and Musasa. Cassiterite and coltan are the common minerals in the area.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
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