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Kinyarwanda
A man identified as Claude Ntukabumwe, 28, was arrested on October 7 in Nyundo Cell of Muyira Sector in Nyanza District for felling trees in a gazetted forest.
Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi said that Ntukabumwe was cutting trees in a gazetted forest located in Nyundo Cell to burn charcoal.
“On Sunday at about 10am, Police in Muyira Sector in collaboration with local leaders and DASSO (District Administrative Security Support Organ) conducted an inspection in a gazetted forests located in Nyundo Cell,” CIP Karekezi said.
He added: “They found that part of the forest had been destroyed especially by charcoal burners, and during the operation they caught Ntukabumwe burning charcoal on the other side of the forest. He was immediately taken into custody.”
CIP Karekezi said there was information that the forest was being destroyed by people burning charcoal, which prompted the joint inspection and the subsequent arrest of Ntukabumwe.
He warned against such acts of environmental degradation. “We appeal to the residents to fight such crimes and report people who cut trees in such protected areas.”
Article 187 of the penal code, partly, specifies that any person, who maliciously damages or plunders trees belonging to another person or belonging to him/her but with an effect on others, commits an offence. Upon conviction, the article adds, the offender faces an imprisonment of not less than one year, and not more than two years and a fine between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million, or only one of these penalties.
