Rwanda National Police

A man suspected of counterfeiting and distributing fake money was arrested in the act in Huye District, Kinazi Sector.

The District Police Commander of Huye, Senior Superintendent of Police(SSP) John Niyibizi said that Iratwumva Jean Claude, 18, was at the time of his arrest on August 21, found in his house counterfeiting the local currency.

The DPC said that the operation was conducted by Rusatira Police station located in Kinazi Sector, following information provided by the local residents.

"After residents informed the Police about Iratwumva's criminal act, officers were deployed to his house located in Kinazi Sector, Sazange Cell in Butare Village where they found him in the process of making counterfeit notes," SSP Niyibizi said.

Police also recovered 380 papers cut like money notes, bottles of colours and a machine which Iratwumva was using to produce the fake currency notes.

"He had already painted quantities of papers cut like money notes, just waiting to pass them through the machine to produce the fake currencies. He has since been handed over to RIB at Rusatira station," SSP Niyibizi said.

The suspect admitted that he has been counterfeiting money for a while now, but could not disclose how much he has so far produced and distributed as well as the chain of distribution.

He further disclosed that all the 380 papers cut like money, which he was caught with were to be turned into fake notes in the denominations of Rwf1,000, which would amount to Rwf380,000 counterfeit money.

Iratwumva further narrated that he started this criminal acts in City of Kigali before relocating to Huye and that the device he was using to make fake currency notes was given to him by a friend whom he was staying with in Kigali.

The DPC thanked the residents, who reported the criminal act and called for strengthened partnership and information sharing on any unlawful acts.

Article 269 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, states that “Any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes, which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, 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, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years.