Two held over defilement

Police have separately arrested two men, suspected of defiling underage girls in the Eastern Province. One incident involves a 29-year -old man apprehended in Nasho Sector, Kirehe District in connection with sexually assaulting his 2-year-old daughter. The incident was reported by the mother and relatives of the victim, Police in Kirehe, said. The suspect had separated with his wife. It is alleged that he committed the crime on Monday at the victim’s maternal grandmother’s home, where the toddler was staying. He had apparently gone there to visit. The suspect is currently held at Nasho Police station. In a related incident, in Ngoma District, Police arrested a 51-year- old resident of Rukira Sector for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old girl. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect dragged the girl off the road to a nearby shrub where he defiled her, Police said. The suspect is currently held at Rukira Police station pending further investigations while the girl is undergoing treatment. Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, who condemned the incidents, said both the suspects and victims were to be subjected to medical examination. “In most cases, suspects deny committing such an offence, but as is the norm, both the victims and suspects will undergo medical examination, which will prove if the crime was committed or not. If the tests prove so, where necessary, the suspect(s) will be subjected to psychological test,” IP Kayigi said. He called on the public to always report such cases to the police for justice to be served. Defilement, under article 191 of the penal code, is punishable with a life sentence. Police established a toll free number (3512) where information from the public concerning sexual and gender-related crimes can be reported in time for quick response. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Two held over defilement