Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) in collaboration with other organs in Rusizi District, arrested on Sunday 30, three men for allegedly fraudulently unwitting local traders whom they were promising to put on the list of Covid-19 relief fund beneficiaries.

The Western region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi identified the three suspects Benjamin Nduhirabandi, 36, Emmanuel Sinayobye, 45 and Marie Rose Niyonsaba, 49, who were arrested in Nyamihanda Cell, Butare Sector.

?All the three people are grassroots leaders in Nyamihanda including the cell executive secretary. They were taking money from local traders deceiving them that there is a list being compiled for people, whose businesses were affected during the Covid-19 pandemic, to benefit from the government relief fund. They were taking between Frw10000 and Frw30000 from the traders," SP Karekezi said.

The criminal acts came to light after some of the victims sensed a foul-play and reported the matter to the Police, according to SP Karekezi.

All the suspects were handed over to RIB at Nyakabuye station for further legal process

Article 174 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, states that; any person who, by deception, obtains another person?s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.  
 
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.