WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI – Police in Kamembe, Rusizi district are holding the former manager of Societe Petrolierre (SP) petrol station Kamembe branch on charges of embezzling the company’s funds.

Police sources say Jean De Dieu Twagirimana alias de Gaulle had eluded arrest since October last year after disappearing from his job.

The Rusizi District Police Commander (DPC), Superintendent Danny Ndayambaje told The New Times in an interview on Saturday that the suspect was arrested by the Interpol Uganda in Mengo, Kampala City suburb on February 13.

Twagirimana is alleged to have swindled over Rwf.27million from the station, according to an audit report which was compiled by a group of auditors from SP head office in Kigali last year.

However, speaking from the police at the weekend, he denied the charges.

"I don’t agree with all the charges levelled against me. The reason I went to Uganda is that I wanted leave to rest from my normal duties….. I am ready to face the courts of law,” he said.

He said that he joined SP in 2001 and was appointed as the company’s branch manager in late 2007.

He would be soon taken to Cyangugu central prison.

The charges of embezzlement attracts between 2-5 years in prison on conviction, according to the Penal Code article number 424.

According to the police chief, Twagirimana left the station cash safe closed and went with its keys.

The safe was broken open by police together with the station’s employees in order to verify how much money he had taken.   

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