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Kinyarwanda
A man suspected of impersonating police has been arrested in Nyamasheke District as he attempted to defraud residents.
Aprodice Usengimana, 43, currently detained at Kanjongo Police station, was arrested on July 31 following information that he was impersonating the commander of Kagano Police station, through which he duped some people.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, Police spokesperson for the Western region, confirmed the arrest.
“We have so far identified one person Usengimana duped. Preliminary investigations indicate that on July 30, he [Usengimana], while calling himself the commander of Kagano Police station, took Rwf50, 000 from one Jean Bosco Sibomana, promising him to release his brother,” said CIP Kanamugire.
Sibomana’s young brother identified as Steven Byumvihire arrested in illegal activities last week and taken to Kagano transit centre.
Unlawfully believing that he would helped to have his brother released, Sibomana gave Usengimana Rwf50, 000 as request.
“Sibomana came out to report the incident after his brother was not released; this was after he realized that actually the person he was dealing with was an impersonator. The suspect was traced and arrested,” Kanamugire said.
“Sibomana himself used unlawful means to have his brother released. That, in the first place, was criminal idea to offer a bribe for an illegal service. Very many people, who have attempted to bribe police officers, have been arrested and prosecuted, and people should learn to go through legal channels and fight for their rights instead of committing crimes to acquire either a legal or illegal service.”
Usengimana, CIP Kanamugire said, will be charged for impersonation and fraud as stipulated under articles 318 of the penal code.
The article states that “Any person who, intentionally obtains a property belonging to another person fraudulently or by using false names or qualities, to give rise to hope or fear of harm and obtains a part or whole of a fortune shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million.”
