Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) arrested three people on Friday, September 9, in Kigali for allegedly forging documents for various public and private institutions.

Two of the suspects are taxi-moto operators identified as Valens Nsanzabaganwa, 36, and Nuurudiini Munyaneza, 50, who were using forged transport authorization permits and Radiant motorcycle insurance.

Transport authorization permit is normally issued by Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA).

The third suspect called Mugabo Zuberi, 28, is the alleged ringleader, who was forging the documents and selling them to other people.

RNP Deputy spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Sendahangarwa Apollo said that the racket was unearthed by members of the public, who reported them to the Police.

"Following credible information on the criminal acts, Police first arrested the two motorcyclists; Nsanzabaganwa and Munyaneza after they were found with forged transport authorization permit and Radiant insurance, for their motorcycles RE 865Q and RF 407D, respectively," CSP Africa said.

The two taxi-moto operators disclosed to the Police that they bought them from Mugabo Zuberi last year, who was also located and arrested.

"During the search at Mugabo's house, Police also recovered other forgeries including six moto insurances and four transport authorization permits," CSP Africa explained.

He added: "Police verified with both RURA and Radiant insurance company and the documents recovered from the three suspects do not exist in their systems, and are forged."

Nsanzabaganwa said that he paid Frw15,000 to Mugabo for the forged documents while Munyaneza paid him Frw30,000 for the same illegal service.

All the suspects have been handed over to RIB for further investigations.

"We warn members of the public, who engage in such criminal practices. We also thank the role of the public in identifying and reporting such unlawful acts," CSP Africa warned.

Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person, who in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations, commits an offence.
 
Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years but not more than seven years and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million or only one of these penalties.