English
Kinyarwanda
On Friday, September 10, at about 8pm, Rwanda National Police (RNP) arrested two people in Musanze District for
allegedly attempting to fleece a woman in Mpenge village, Mpenge cell, Muhoza sector.
The acting District Police Commander (Ag.DPC) for Musanze, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Speciose Kayitesi identified the suspects as Evariste Ndimurwango, 37, and Xavier Harerimana, 28.
?Police was called by a resident of Mpenge village reporting Harerimana belonging to a racket of fraudsters and who was wanted for previous related criminal acts," CIP Kayitesi said.
During the response, she added, it was observed that Harerimana, who was with Ndimurwango, had fleed one Josephine Musabyemariya of a wallet and mobile phone.
"Harerimana was arrested at the scene but Ndimurwango attempted to flee, he was intercepted by the residents who also handed him over to the Police officers," CIP Kayitesi explained.
How they were defrauding people
Harerimana explained that they had bundles of papers cut like currency notes and covered on either sides with genuine bills.
"We would drop the bundle a few distance in the direction where the person we are targeting is heading. When that person picks the bundle thinking that he or she has hit the jackpot, one of us would come back claiming to have lost money," Harerimana narrated.
He added: "Other members of the racket would put the person who picked the bundle on the side, seduce him or her to share the money. They would eventually agree to meet at a certain venue where they would share the money. The target, would however leave his or her valuables with the group as security."
In this specific case, Harerimana claimed to have picked a lot of money, which he gave Musabyemariya to keep it as another member of the racket came back claiming to have misplaced Frw400, 000.
?I saw Harerimana picking something from the ground. At that moment, another man came back claiming to have lost Frw400000, which he was going to use to buy iron sheets.
At that very moment, Harerimana put me on the side, gave me the bundle of the alleged money promising that we would share it. He took my handbag and mobile phone and promised that we would meet in Musanze taxi-park," Musabyemariya narrated.
She thanked the Police for the intervention to recover her bag and phone.
The DPC commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
They were handed over to RIB at Muhoza station for further Investigation and legal process.
Article 174 of law determining offences and penalties in general state that; any person who, by deception, obtains another person?s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.
