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Kinyarwanda
Police in Gisagara District is holding a commercial motorcyclist for allegedly attempting to bribe Police officers to have his impounded motorcycle released.
Jean Damascene Niyibizi’s motorcycle had earlier been impounded for lack of varied traffic documents and was due to pay fines amounting toRwf 60,000.
He, however, opted to bribe police officers with Rwf 30,000 so as to release it his motorcycle.
According to the Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the suspect in custody had lent his motorcycle to a colleague who didn’t have a driver’s license.
“When police stopped Niyibizi’s colleague, he dumped the motorcycle and ran. Preliminary investigations indicated that the rider didn’t have a driver’s license, among other documents, prompting the officers to impound the motorcycle. Later, Niyibizi came claiming it, but after learning the offences, he asked police officers to meet them and attempted to bribe them with Rwf30, 000. The officers arrested them,” said IP Kayigi.
The suspect, who admits to having attempted to bribe the officers, is currently held at Ndora police station as Police processes his case file.
Although bribes are given out or received in secrecy, IP Kayigi said, the public need to know that RNP has laid stringent measures against corruption and fighting it is a collective responsibility as well.
"We have said this time and again… corruption or bribery is unacceptable. Fighting it at all levels is among the police priorities,” IP Kayigi said.
He commended the officers that arrested Niyibizi saying that; “Police officers are well trained and have over and over exhibited the highest level of professionalism. Bribery is therefore not something we can tolerate. Those who seek services should go through the right channels.”
Article 641 of the Penal Code stipulates that any person who directly or indirectly offers a gift in order to get an illegal service or refrain from carrying out any usual duties shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five to seven years and a fine and a fine of twice or up to ten times the value of what they had offered in bribes.
