English
Kinyarwanda
The intensified Rwanda National Police fight against corruption saw the arrest of a truck driver on April 3, for allegedly attempting to offer a Police officer a bribe of Rwf25, 000 for any illegal service.
The arrest of Adrian Komeza, 52, in Kamonyi district came less than a week after two other drivers apprehended in another foiled bribery attempt.
Komeza had been found transporting timber without authorisation documents, as it's the norm, and he tried to offer the officer with money to buy his way through.
"Instead of providing authorising documents as requested, Komeza tried to pass Rwf25 , 000 to the officer in order to let him continue his journey. The officer alerted his counterparts and they immediately apprehended the suspect," Chief Superintendent Hubert Gashagaza, Police Spokesperson for Southern Region, said.
"This is a clear example of the culture that Rwanda National Police impart in the officers to understand that bribery and corruption can not be tolerated."
He commended the officer for denouncing the bribe offer and warned drivers and other members of the public who "use bribe as a means to evade justice in another unlawful way."
"It is better to always go through the right channels availed in order to acquire a service," he advised.
He also urged residents to cooperate with Police and report people who try to acquire or offer services unlawfully.
At least 200 people, majority drivers, have been arrested since last year in connection with attempting to offer officers with bribes in order not to be fined.
Article 641 of the penal code states that any person who offers or proposes a gift or any other illegal benefit, to a person in charge of a service, mission or mandate or who promises it in order to render a service or to refrain from carrying out any usual duties, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five to seven years and a fine twice to ten times the value of the illegal benefit he or she offered or promised.
