Rwanda National Police

Police has called on the public to seek for services through legal channels rather than opting to bribe, which will get them arrested and prosecuted.

The call stems from an event on February 15 when Police in Busasamana Sector in Nyanza District arrested two suspects who attempted to bribe an officer.

Identified as Geremie Mpabuka and Marie Mukaminani, the duo are said to have offered a bribe worth Rwf50, 000 to an officer on duty in order to release their colleague who is jailed at Busasamana Police Station over assault offences.

"The officer turned down the bribe and instead apprehended the suspects immediately - and they now will face the law. The public is advised to desist from corruption and bribery tendencies because they attract heavy charges and penalties. If anyone is in need of an urgent service, they should go through the right channels," Police Spokesperson for Southern Province, Chief Superintendent, Hubert Gashagaza said.

He also reminded the public that Police will continue to fight such malpractices which creates an unfavorable business environment by encouraging unfair advantage, as well as undermining the rights of the weak and poor in public service delivery.

Rwanda has over and again been praised as a role model in the fight against corruption and bribery - and Rwanda National Police maintained zero-stance to graft.

At least 150 people have been arrested since October last year, majority drivers, for attempting to bribe officers to acquire services illegally.

In the Penal code, article 633, section D, bribery is defined as giving a gift in cash or any other illegal benefit, for the provision of a service or an act in unlawful way, or to reward the provider of the service.

This crime is punished under article 641 with a term of imprisonment between five to seven years and a fine of twice or ten times the value of the illegal benefit provided.

Rwanda National Police has put several measures to combat graft including working with other anti-corruption institutions like Ombudsman Office and Transparency International-Rwanda, setting up Anti-Corruption and disciplinary units and pursuing e-policing, among others.