Rwanda National Police

Police in Kamonyi District, on Wednesday, detained two drivers after they allegedly attempted to bribe traffic officers.

The suspects, both truck drivers identified as Fabien Ngizamahoro and Desire Imaniraguha were arrested separately along Kamonyi-Kigali highway.

They had violated varied traffic rules, and the bribe was meant to prevent further penalties, Police said.

“Ngizamahoro, at the time of his arrest in Gacurabwenge Sector, was trying to seduce a traffic police officer with Rwf30, 000 while Imaniraguha was trying to offer a bribe of Rwf5000,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, explained.

“Ngizamahoro was stopped by traffic officers on duty to check what he carried in the truck. They found that he was transporting coffee without transport authorization permit. He tried to give a police officer Rwf30, 000 to bail his vehicle and to prevent any legal action, he was immediately arrested,” he added.

Imaniraguha, on his part, had overloaded the truck, the spokesperson said. He warned against violating road traffic rules and regulations.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) and other government and private transport agencies launched a year-long road safety campaign on Monday in an effort to reverse the trend of accidents in the country.

“We have to respect traffic rules and regulations… they were put in place to save lives and whoever violates them puts the lives of other road users in danger, which is unacceptable. Trying to bribe officers also becomes a criminal offense, which you should be ready to face once caught,” CIP Karekezi warned

“Remember corruption has bad effects on many aspects of security and development, and everyone should stand up against such criminal acts,” he said.

The suspects were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau at Gacurabwenge station.