English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called upon the general public to watch against criminals in the habit of using counterfeit money to purchase goods and services.
The call stems from two incidents that happened in Nyarugenge on May 14, when police arrested two men suspected of distributing counterfeit money.
The men identified as Védaste Nshimiyimana, 25 and Jean Pierre Nkundabagenzi, 27, are believed to be working as part of a ring that targets foreign exchange bureaus.
They were arrested with a total of US$400, each with $200, all fake as they attempted to exchange with Rwandan francs at a forex bureau.
The Central Region Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, said that the two were arrested following information provided by the would be victims.
“Money counterfeiting is a serious economic offense that Rwanda at large cannot afford to tolerate. We commend those responsible residents who continue to provide timely and important information that enables police to conduct success operations against such acts,” he said.
“The business community is reminded to be cautious against this scourge and put in place gadgets that can detect forged money. Police will continue to work together with residents to ensure that the challenge of counterfeit money is eradicated.”
Articles 603 of the Rwandan penal code criminalises and punishes those who falsify or alter coins and bills which are legal tender, with a term of imprisonment between two to five year and a fine three to ten times the value of the counterfeits they were arrested with.
