English
Kinyarwanda
Merely a week after police arrested 12 drivers over bribery, eight others have been arrested in Gicumbi District.
The arrests on September 27 came after the drivers, who had been caught for traffic-related offences, tried to bribe the officers to escape penalties.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kabanda, the spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety Department, the drivers had been found driving without or with expired documents, overloading or transporting unauthorized luggage.
He identified the suspects as Leonard Tugume, Ismael Habimana, Dieudonne Ntezebose, Muli Mwikuyu, Eulade Bakundukuze, George Barutwanayo, Mwase Bakali and Onesmass Abomugisha.
They are currently held at Byumba Police Station.
The Traffic Police spokesperson warned drivers against bribing police officers saying that “such attempts will lead them to jail.”
“Such operations will be continuous and anyone involved will brought to book,” CIP Kabanda warned.
He reminded the public that officers are charged with ensuring high levels of moral discipline and to ensure that roads are safe for all.
Demanding or receiving a bribe under article 641 attracts a sentence between five and seven years and s fine of twice to ten times the value of the illegal benefit offered or promised.
“Respect the traffic rules and regulations, and if you are caught violating any accept the penalties because if you try bribery means, you will be arrested for that offence to face the law,” the spokesperson warned.
So far, about 90 drivers have been arrested since the beginning of this year, on the charges related to bribery.
