Rwanda National Police

Two people including an employee of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) have been arrested following a failed attempt to sell cash power meters illegally through soliciting bribes.

Damascene Nsabimana, 35, a technician at REG, was arrested in Kicukiro District, Kigarama Sector, while in the process of acquiring a bribe worth Rwf155, 000 from a client who had asked for a new cash power meter.

The client, Hope Cyamasire, who sought for a cash power meter for her carpentry in Gikondo, was also immediately arrested, in a case which was being closely investigated by police.

The duo was arrested red-handed on July 22 and are both currently held at Gikondo Police Station pending further investigations.

Police is also searching for another employee of REG who is believed to be the mastermind of the illegal dealings.

The Police Spokesperson for Central Region, Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, noted that such arrests should send strong warning to those intending to take such directions.

“Bribery is an act that undermines the development of a nation and every Rwandan resident is advised to fight against such acts. It is always better to seek or offer services through the legal channels – and those who are not satisfied with specific services, should officially address the matter to the service providers rather than be tempted to offer bribes,” he said.

“Service providers should also be professional at all times and fight against bribery and corruption tendencies. Being professional is not only good for the institutions but also good for the employees, who are required to build a distinguished level of trust and accountability towards those they provide services.”

Rwanda National Police regularly conducts anti-corruption campaigns throughout the country, during which officers engage the public on initiatives to collectively fight against the vice through community policing.

RNP currently has a unit attached to the utility body to fight such crimes.

Last week, RNP inaugurated a special anti ‘Corruption and Public Fund Embezzlement Unit’ that will handle all cases related to the vice. Besides awareness programmes against the vice, the force also works with other stakeholders like Ombudsman, Transparency International prosecution among others.

Article 641 of the penal code states that any person who offers other illegal benefits to a person in charge of a service in order to render a service or to refrain from carrying out any usual duties, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five to seven years and a fine twice to ten times the value of the illegal benefit that was offered.

Rwanda remains the least corrupt country in the region and fifth on the continent, according to Transparency International 2014 Corruption Perception 2014 Index-(CPI).