Police, in collaboration with Rwanda Investigation Bureau, have arrested five people including three nurses at Kayanga Health Centre in Gasabo District, for allegedly conniving to steal several equipment and drugs.

The items, including laboratory equipment, ward furniture and medical drugs from the pharmacy, were stolen over time.

According to the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, Senior Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, the five are currently detained at Gikomera Police station pending further investigations by the Bureau.

"There was information that items allocated to the health centre by the Government to facilitate patients were being stolen,” SSP Hitayezu said.

"There was some clue that one of the nurses was the one stealing bedsheets and bedcovers from the stores. When officers and investigators went to their house they recovered several items, including bed covers and sheets belonging to the health centre,” he added.

Medical drugs said to have been stolen from the pharmacy were also recovered from one of the suspects’ houses. Other suspects were also found with other varied items that were stolen from the health centre, police said.

The exact quantity and value of what was stolen is yet to be established, he said.

Taking things from the health centre or hospital is playing on the lives and welfare of the people especially patients, so such malpractices should be fought by everyone,” SSP Hitayezu said.

Article 300 of the Penal Code stipulates that, any person who commits theft without violence or threats shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of two to five times the value of the stolen property or one of these penalties.

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