English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has arrested a man identified as David Mutuyimana, in Rubavu District, who was allegedly masquerading as one of their own and defrauding taxi-moto operators.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson of the Western region, said that Mutuyimana was arrested on October 25, in Risiza cell of Bugeshi sector after one of the taxi-moto operators that he had allegedly defrauded reported the matter to the Police.
“In the latest incident, in the evening of October 25, Mutuyimana allegedly stopped a contractual commercial motorcyclist along the road, demanded for traffic related documents but the motorcyclist lacked some of the documents.
Mutuyimana threatened the motorcyclist that he would impound his motorcycle unless the former paid Frw10, 000, the motorcyclist did not have that money but he connected Mutuyimana to the owner of the motorcycle.
Mutuyimana went ahead and called the rightful owner of the motorcycle and introduced himself as the ‘commander for Bugeshi Police station’, demanded Frw10, 000 in order to release his motorcycle,” CIP Karekezi explained.
The suspect, after realizing that his trick would yield to nothing, he forcefully impounded the motorcycle, the wallet of the motorcyclist, which contained Frw5, 000, and all the traffic documents, and took them.
“This prompted the motorcyclist to go to Bugeshi Police station to complain about the poor Police services and handling of traffic offences with threats and soliciting bribes, that’s when he realized that he had been defrauded by someone, who was masquerading as a Police officer and Bugeshi station commander. Police worked with the victim to locate Mutuyimana, who was arrested in a bar, where he was found drinking.”
The motorcycle and documents were recovered but Mutuyimana had already spent the money on drinks. The suspect was handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Busasamana station.
CIP Karekezi reminded the general public that Police services are given in a transparent manner, with no attached illegal conditions like bribes.
“If a Police officer catches you breaking the law or violating traffic rules and regulations, like in this specific case, penalties are provided by law but not bribes. Be it a Police officer or another person pretending to be one and asking for money; either way it is criminal and punishable by law and there is no reason as to why you should not report such individuals,” CIP Karekezi emphasized.
Impersonation, under article 279 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, attracts an imprisonment of between two to three years and a fine of between Rwf300, 000 and Frw500, 000, while fraud is punishable under article 174, with an imprisonment of between two and three years and a fine of Frw3 million to Frw5 million, upon conviction.
