English
Kinyarwanda
Police has arrested a 24 year old woman in Ruhango District for robbing a Mobile Money agent of Rwf2 million.
Shemsa Uwimana was arrested on May 5 when the Mobile Money agent alerted Police about the incident, which occurred in Bweramana Sector.
Police Spokesperson for the Southern Region, Chief Superintendent Hubert Gashagaza, revealed that the suspect used trickery and obtained the password of the Mobile Money agent before she hacked into the victim's phone and sent Rwf2 million to her acquaintance’s mobile phone account.
“The suspect pretended to be seeking for a service on MTN Mobile money, but as the agent tried to give her a service she had requested, the suspect stealthily crammed his password. Later as the agent was distracted, the suspect craftily picked the phone, entered the password and sent Rwf2 million,” he said.
“Moments later, the agent became suspicious and upon checking his phone he discovered that Rwf2 million was missing. He immediately alerted Police and they were able to find and arrest the suspect, who was still in the area.”
After her arrest, Police immediately alerted MTN Rwanda about the incident and the money was traced. However, Rwf500, 000 had been withdrawn already by the suspect’s accomplice, while Rwf1.5 million was safely returned to the victim.
“The victim was quick to report the theft to police immediately and we were able to recover part of the stolen money. This is a clear example of how Police, the public and the business community can cooperate in order to end such economic and cyber crimes that tend to destroy other people’s achievements,” CSP Gashagaza said.
“Police is carrying out investigations and searching for the second accomplice who received the stolen money and managed to withdraw Rwf500,000. Through community policing and sharing of timely information, Police will be able to foster peace, development and the rule of law in all communities.”
Article 307 of the Rwanda Penal Code states that any person who withdraws data stored or sent electronically or through any similar way, which is not meant for him/her, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment between two and five years and a fine between Rwf500,000 and Rwf3 million.
