Police have recovered 616 computer laptops that went missing from various schools across the country, as part of ongoing investigations. Over 2700 laptops donated by the government under the One-Laptop-Per-Child programme were accounted for by the schools with some of them reportedly stolen. “So far investigations have revealed that, 613 laptops were reported missing in City of Kigali, of which we have recovered 238 of them and arrested 5 people; In the Northern Province, of the 371 missing laptops, 41 have been recovered and were are investigating 81 people connected to the missing laptops; while in the Western Province, of the 157 missing laptops, 44 were recovered and 8 people have so far been arrested,” said ACP Twahirwa, Police spokesperson. “Investigations have also recovered 293 laptops out of 1,049 that went missing in the Eastern Provinceand so far 41 people have also been arrested,” he added. At least 548 laptops went missing in 53 schools in the Southern Province. The arrested suspects include head teachers or members of the teaching staff in the affected schools. “Although the process of recovering the laptops and ensuring that all those responsible are held accountable, has just started, it should be clearly noted that not all of them were stolen; some went missing because there was lack of proper follow up from school management which is some cases didn’t record the laptops that they gave out to the rightful beneficiaries,” he said. “But investigations have separated cases considered as theft and those related to poor management… each case will be treated accordingly with thorough investigations still underway.” editorial@newtimes.co.rw
