Rwanda National Police

Police and residents in Rubavu District, on Monday, November 22, have recovered Frw7,953,500, which was stolen from a shop in Gisenyi town.

The money was recovered from the suspected thief identified as Christian Manzi, 24, who was located and arrested shortly after sneaking into the shop.

The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonavanture Twizere Karekezi said that Manzi sneaked into the shop belonging to Fabrice Ruvumba, at about 2pm as the latter moved out to attend to other matters in the backyard.

?Ruvumba had just stepped out when Manzi, who was loitering in the area, entered the shop and broke into the locker where the money was kept, and took all the money that was there," CIP Karekezi said.

When Ruvumba returned to his shop, he found that the locker had been vandalized and all the money missing.

"Fortunate enough, residents, who were nearby, had seen Manzi coming out of the shop. They went after him and apprehended him. However, Manzi managed to escape from them again but Police officers, who were called in, had just arrived, they pursued and arrested him.

When they searched him, they recovered all the Frw7,953,500 which he had hidden in his underwear."

CIP Karekezi lauded the residents for the neighbourhood watch, which facilitated swift response to arrest the suspected thief and to recover the money.

On his part, Ruvumba thanked the Police and residents for the quick response to recover his money and to arrest the suspected thief.

Manzi was handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further investigations and legal process.

Article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states; 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 Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six months or only one of these penalties.