English
Kinyarwanda
Two people were arrested on Tuesday in Rubavu District after they were found felling trees in the gazetted Mukura-Gishwati National Park.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira, the Western region Police spokesperson, said the duo was caught red-handed cutting down the trees.
He identified the suspects as Theophile Byukusenge, 22, and Jean Damascene Ngendahimana, 51, both residents of Nkomane village, Nkomane cell in Kanama sector.
CIP Gasasira said there was information that the forest was being destroyed by people burning charcoal, which prompted the joint inspection and the subsequent arrest of the duo.
“It is prohibited and punishable by law to cut down trees in a gazetted forests and national parks. In any case, cutting trees requires authorization from local leaders or other concerned authorities,” CIP Gasasira said.
The suspects were soon after handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau for further investigations.
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.
