English
Kinyarwanda
A driving test candidate and driving school instructor were arrested on Wednesday, May 11, in Rwamagana District for allegedly attempting to offer a bribe of Frw400,000 to Police officers.
Lambert Kora, 39, had failed a driving test when he, together with Niyoyita Sylvestre, 36, a driving school instructor in Kayonza District, reached out to two Police officers, who were supervising the tests, with the bribe.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province, said that Kora had failed the road driving test.
"One Wednesday, Kora, who was doing practical driving tests in Kigabiro Sector, Rwamagana District, failed the road test. Ironically, Kora with the help of Niyoyita, reached out to two Police officers from the Testing and Licensing department, who were supervising the tests, with a bribe of Frw400, 000 so as to include him (Kora) among those who passed and eligible for a driver's license," SP Twizeyimana said.
He added: "Police officers reported to their superiors about the criminal attempt by the two men and they were arrested red-handed, handed over to RIB at Kigabiro station for further investigation."
A successful candidate in practical tests pays only Frw50,000 for a driver's permit.
"Register for driving tests, do them and when you fail, try again next time. It is better than spending years in prison for something avoidable. Those Police officers that you try to seduce with a bribe thinking that they will fall for your criminal approaches, are the ones who will arrest you," SP Twizeyimana warned.
Article 4 of law n? 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption states; any person who 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 years but not more than seven years with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.
Penalties provided under this article also apply to a person, who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him/ herself or another person to have a service rendered or omitted.
