The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested four YouTubers suspected of using children for pornographic content.
The arrested quartet includes David Twizerimana, the alleged owner of Smart Guys TV and Smart Nation TV, the two YouTube channels being investigated for uploading such videos.
Twizerimana was arrested along with three other people who are said to be his work partners.
According to RIB, the arrested individuals are being investigated for “using children in pornographic films and spreading them using social media channels like YouTube.”
The four are being held at RIB’s stations of Kacyiru, Kimironko, Kimihurura and Remera as their files are being processed to be sent to the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA).
“RIB will not tolerate any person who uses a child in pornography and other activities that put children into bad behaviour which waste their future,” a statement from RIB read.
“Anyone who will be caught in such activities will be punished as the law provides,” it added.
According to the 2018 law relating to the protection of the child, a person who, by any means records a pornographic picture or voice of a child commits an offence.
“Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than seven million Rwandan francs (Rwf7 million) and not more than ten million Rwandan francs (Rwf 10 million),” Article 35 of the law reads
