A total of six TVET graduates aged between 18 and 25 years were on Thursday, December 30 convicted for willful destruction of school property and sentenced to five years in prison.

They were also fined Rwf5 million each.

They committed the offences on July 29 at ESECOM Rucano TVET School in Ngororero district after completing their national exams.

It is alleged that the students went to a bar from where they got drunk and came back and destroyed the school fence, set ablaze some beds in their hostels, among other mischief.

Issuing the verdict, the presiding judge at the Ngororero Primary Court said they were guilty of destroying another person’s property noting that education and knowledge without a conscience are not beneficial to society thus giving them the maximum penalty the crimes can attract.

According to Article 186 of the penal law, upon being convicted of such crimes, a person faces a jail term that is not less than three years but not more than five years, and a fine of not less than Rwf 3 million but not more than Rwf 5 million.

The defendants had asked for suspended jail terms so that they can be able to continue with their studies.

However, the court denied their request, saying that they committed those crimes extremely cruelly and the punishments were meant to serve as a lesson for others. 

The students can appeal against the court decision at the intermediate court.