Rwanda National Police

Police in Kayonza District have recovered US$22,100, and Rwf200, 000 that was stolen from a local businessman.

The money was stolen from Jean Nepo Mazimpaka, who deals in minerals, on May 18 after thieves broke into his car as it was parked on the streets of Kayonza town.

Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, said that the money was recovered from five people, who connived in the theft, and who are already in Police custody.

"After the victim noticed that he had been robbed he immediately called the Police. Officers first checked the handset of the victim's friend Paul Nsengiyumva whom they had travelled together from Kigali that evening, and they found a message he had sent to someone telling him that there was in the car, indicating the car number plates and where it was parked," CIP Kanamugire said.

"He was immediately taken into custody and his other four accomplices were also traced and arrested on Saturday, and all the stolen money recovered," he added.

Some suspects were arrested in Kigali. All the other four suspects are mechanics in Kayonza town.

The spokesperson identified the other suspects as Ernest Ntakirutimana, Modest Ndigijimana, Jenvier Manzi, and Shabani Zambia.

Nsengiyumva was a friend to the victim and the latter had requested the former to accompany him from Kigali to Kayonza that day.

It is said that the thieves brought a truck, parked it next to the targeted car to block the owner from noticing the crime from where he was seated with his so called friend.

"The victim has been informed about the recovery of his money while suspects now in the hands of Rwanda Investigations Buruea are detained at Mukarange Police station," CIP Kanamugire said.

Mazimpaka thanked the Police for recovering his money.

"At first I did not have any hope that my money would ever be recovered, however, I observed high sense of commitment by officers from onset, to help," Mazimpaka said.

"I was so happy a day after, when I received a telephone call asking me to come and pick my money,” he added.

"However, it is so disappointing for the person you called a friend, who is also my neighbor in Kigali to be the brain behind everything, but I am grateful to the Police responsiveness," he said.

CIP Kanamugire advised people against keeping large sums of money in the car or at home to prevent such temptations of theft.