Rwanda National Police

Police in Gasabo District arrested two men on Sunday after they were found with counterfeit money amounting to US$800.

The currency notes in the denominations of US$100 were recovered from Patrick Ishimwe, 27, and Theogene Kagiraneza, 21, who were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Kacyiru station.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorrette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the duo was identified after they attempted to pay their bill at a bar where they were having drinks.

“Ishimwe and Kagiraneza were having drinks together at a bar located in Kacyiru Sector; they approached the counter to inquire if they can pay in dollars which was granted, instead they paid a fake note of US$100, fortunate enough the bar management observed that the note was fake and called the Police,” CIP Umutesi said.

“Private security personnel at the bar apprehended them as they waited for the arrival of the Police. When officers searched them they recovered other seven counterfeit dollar notes in the denominations of US$100; they were immediately taken into custody for the alleged crime,” she added.

According the article 269 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, specifies that “any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.”

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.

The article further states that “any person  who  knowingly  acquires  or receives  coins  or notes  knowing that it is falsified, even if he or she is not one of counterfeiters or importers of  such  monies commits an offence. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term not less than one year and not more than three years.”

CIP Umutesi called for vigilance and timely information sharing on people, who either counterfeits or circulates fake currencies.