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Kinyarwanda
Police in Musanze District are holding a 36-year old self-proclaimed wizard on charges of attempting to bribe to a security personnel, who intervened following claims raised by residents after they suspected foul-prey in his traditional practices.
The suspect, Jean Paul Minani, who is currently held at Busogo police station, had traveled from Burera District on an invitation of one Jean Baptiste Kanyabusogo, a resident of Busogo Sector in Musanze, apparently to perform sorcery on him and to heal him.
On learning that there was a wizard in their neighborhood, which raised their fears, residents of Nyarubuye Village, hurried informed security organs.
“In the process of intervention, Minani attempted to bribe an officer with Rwf30, 000 to turn a blind eye. He was immediately arrested and detained on charges of bribery,” said the Northern Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana.
In the Penal code, bribery is defined under article 633, section D, as giving or agreeing to give a gift in cash or any other illegal benefit, for the provision of a service or an act in unlawful way, or to reward the provider of the service or act rendered by a recipient or an intermediary.
The crime is punishable under article 641 with a sentence, if convicted, ranging from five to seven years and a fine of twice or to ten times the value of what was had offered in bribes.
Traditional medicine is only provided by accredited traditional healers in Rwanda.
Traditional medicine is defined as a total sum of knowledge, skills and practice based on theories, beliefs and experiences of indigenous and used in maintenance, prevention and diagnosis of diseases, according to the World Health Organisation.
