Rwanda National Police

Police in Gasabo District have arrested one Epiphanie Mukanziga, 55, with counterfeit money amounting to USD3,000, approximately Frw3,135,000.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, Mukanziga was arrested on Thursday, November 10, in Jabana after she tried to defraud someone with the counterfeit dollar bills.

"The would-be victim realized that he had been fleeced by Mukanziga after he tried to exchange $2000 at a forex bureau in Nyabugogo, prompting him to swiftly inform the Police," said CIP Twajamahoro.

It is alleged that Mukanziga first gave the would-be victim a genuine bill of $50, to exchange it for her, which he did.

"Mukanziga later gave him other $2000 in the denominations of $50, to also go and exchange it for her, promising him a certain percent as commission.

However, Mukanziga told her target to leave with her Frw2 million which he had, as security, and that he would collect it together with his share as agreed. Mukanziga disappeared thereafter," explained Twajamahoro.

She was, however, tracked and arrested later in Jabana where she was found in possession of other counterfeit bills amounting to $1000.

Mukanziga claimed that she was given the fake bills by other people but could not disclose their identities.

She was handed over to RIB at Jabana station for further investigations.

CIP Twajamahoro reiterated the need for vigilance against such fraudsters and partnership through information sharing on anyone suspected to be connected to counterfeiting and circulating fake monies.

Article 269 of law No 68/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.