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Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has arrested a man in Sovu Cell, Kigabiro Sector in Rwamagana District for allegedly defrauding his employer of Frw185,000.
Paul Habarurema, 21, was arrested on Friday May 20, after withdrawing the money from a mobile account of Abdallah Semugaza, a resident of Midahandwa Village, Kabatasi Cell, Rubona Sector also in Rwamagana District, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Eastern region Police spokesperson.
At least Frw133,500 was recovered from the suspect.
?The Habarurema had managed to acquire a PIN for Semugaza's mobile money account. On Friday, he went to Semugaza's home guising as someone looking for a casual job, which he was given as a house-help," SP Twizeyimana explained.
"Habarurema then borrowed Semugaza's phone apparently to call his family to inform them where he was going to be working. Instead, he wired Frw185,000 from Semugaza's mobile account to another account, returned the phone to the owner and immediately left," he added.
Later in the evening at about 7pm, Semugaza realized that he had been fleeced after checking his mobile money account. At that moment, Habarurema, who was the prime suspect, was nowhere to be seen, prompting the victim to call the Police.
"Police swiftly intervened, tracked the suspect in Cyaruhogo trading center, Sovu Cell in Kigabiro Sector where he was found with only Frw133,500. He had already spent part of the money to buy shoes, clothes and a bag, which were also seized,? SP Twizeyimana explained.
This was not the first time that Habarurema has been implicated in the same criminal act. He was handed over to RIB at Rubona station for further investigations.
Article 166 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general provides that any person convicted for theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six months or only one of these penalties.
Obtaining property of another person by deception, under article 174 of the same law, is punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 3 years, and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.
