English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called for “vigilance” and to report of individuals, who guise as Police officers to defraud unwitting members of the public.
The force further warned against bribery including attempting to corrupt one of their own so as to either acquire illegal services or escape penalties.
This comes after four people were arrested separately on Tuesday for either impersonating Police officers or attempted bribery.
In Musanze District, Cyuve Sector, one Charles Nshimiyimana, 32, was arrested as he impersonated the commander of Muhoza Police station, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for Northern region.
“Nshimiyimana, who was posing as the commander of Muhoza Police station, was trying to defraud a woman of Rwf200, 000. Nshimiyimana had told the woman that he would release her husband, who is detained at Muhoza Police station,” said CIP Rugigana.
Her husband was arrested recently over drug-related crimes. “The woman decided to report the case; Nshimiyimana was tracked and arrested as he was withdrawing the money wired on his Mobile Money account.”
One Claude Nyirikiraro was also arrested in Kimisagara Sector, Nyarugenge District where he had mounted a roadblock and soliciting bribes from people including motorists.
In Kigarama Sector of Kicukiro District, one Elisaphani Nyirimana, 44, was arrested receiving a bribe of Rwf30, 000 from one Viateur Dusabimana, whom he had convinced that he would halt the demolition of his house built illegally.
Also in Gisagara District, Gikonko Sector, Police arrested Janvier Ndayisaba after he attempted to bribe a police officer with Rwf15, 000 to release his impounded motorcycle and to prevent further penalties.
Ndayisaba had been found riding the motorcycle without traffic related documents including a driver’s license.
Corruption and bribery in particular, has diverse effects on individuals, service delivery, governance, justice and development of the country; it is classified as a high impact crime and given due attention.
Police calls upon the public to avoid anything that would tempt them into either offering or receiving bribes and share information on those involved to ensure that they face the law.
According to article 4 of the Law on Fighting Against Corruption, any person, who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/herself or another person in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate, commits an offense.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years, with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited or received.
Also the Article 174 of the penal code states: “Any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
