Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) continues to call for public vigilance against people counterfeiting and circulating fake currencies.

The call follows recent separate arrests of two people in Kicukiro and Nyarugenge districts, after they were found in possession of fake local currency notes.

In Kicukiro, Janvier Sibomana was arrested on Sunday with nine fake notes of Rwf1, 000 while Pascal Nambajimana was arrested in Nyarugenge with two counterfeit notes of Rwf5, 000.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie Gorrette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the duo was at the time of their arrest trying to defraud a telecom banking agent to deposit the fake money on their mobile accounts.

Their arrest came a day after two other people were also arrested in Gasabo District with fake US dollar notes amounting to US$200.

“The majority of those apprehended with fake currencies were arrested thanks to the vigilance of the would-be victims especially the business community like telecom banking agents, bars and forex bureaus. Thorough cross-checking of bills is crucial to arrest such financial criminals,” CIP Umutesi said.

According to article 269 of Rwanda penal code, any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.