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On Sunday, May 16, Rwanda National Police (RNP) showed to the media three drivers and a turnboy, who allegedly attempted to bribe traffic Police officers to prevent being penalized for violating traffic rules.
The suspects paraded at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District, were arrested on Saturday, May 15, along Kigali-Bugesera road.
They are Andre Renatus Karegeya, Vedaste Habiyambere, Alphonse Nzabonimana and the co-driver, Francois Kalimunda.
Karegeya, one of the suspects, said that he was at the time driving a trailer with worn tyres.
"I was heading to Bugesera when traffic Police officers stopped me in Gahanga and realized that two of the tyres were old. I asked them to forgive me and in the process I also offered them Frw1, 000 but I was arrested for trying to bribe the officer," said Karegeya.
Karegeya Andre Renatus admitted that after being pardoned by the police he gave him a thousand rupees to buy water.
He regretted as to why he did not instead pay a traffic fine of Frw20000 for the two worn tyres.
Vedaste Habiyambere, also said that he was driving a public vehicle to Bigesera when he was found with no mechanical inspection certificate.
"I was arrested red-handed giving Frw5000 to the traffic Police officer," said Habiyambere.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned drivers and the public in general against such "criminal behaviours."
"Traffic rules and regulations were put in place to ensure the safety of road users, but when you violate them and worse still try to bribe Police officers, be ready to face serious repercussion," CP Kabera warned.
Vedaste Habiyambere said that he was driving a public vehicle to Bigesera when he was found with no mechanical inspection certificate.
He warned that both the person, who offers the bribe and the one who receives it commit a crime, adding that "Police officers, who engage in such criminal practices also face the law."
"An offence cannot be corrected with crime. If you commit a traffic offense, pay the penalties instead of trying to seduce officers with bribes, which can lead you to many years in prison."
The suspects were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) for further legal process.
Article 4 of the law N? 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption states that any person who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.
