Rwanda National Police

Police in Musanze District, on February 6, arrested a 47-year-old man for allegedly impersonating Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) officials with intent to defraud unsuspecting people. 

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that the suspect; Emmanuel Ndagijimana had targeted a man, whose vehicle had been impounded over fraud and drug trafficking related offenses.

"On February 6, Ndagijimana, who was posing as an official from RRA, approached a man in Cyuve sector whose vehicle had been impounded over fraud; he told the would-be victim that he was in position to bail his vehicle," Rugigana said.

According to Rugigana, the suspect demanded Rwf500, 000 for the service.

He was arrested in the act receiving the money after the would-be victim informed the Police, Rugigana said. 

“Pretending to be a person of authority is a serious crime punishable by law, let alone soliciting bribes,” said CIP Rugigana.

The law states that “any person who, without tittle usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one of these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official or publicly wears a costume, a uniform, badge or an emblem with an intention to mislead the public, commits an offence.”

Upon conviction,  he is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years.