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Kinyarwanda
Police have arrested a 53-year old man for allegedly forging several documents including foreign passports and national identifications, driving licenses and stamps.
Ali Ruzavaho, a resident of Rwezamenyo Sector in Nyarugenge district was apprehended on September 1 following detailed police investigation.
Security agencies learnt of the forged documents and tracked them to the source which happened to be Ruzavaho’s home in Rwezamenyo.
Police investigators also toed the suspect to a time when they caught him red-handed as he was selling a forged Burundian national ID at an equivalent of Rwf10, 000.
Police also seized several forged documents at his house including 23 stamps, Burundian documents that comprise of driver’s license, passports and IDs.
The forged stamps include those of commercial banks, universities, construction firms, international NGOs, immigration, embassies and municipality, among others.
He also had a forged UAE and Chinese stamps.
Upon arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime and asked for forgiveness.
He said; “I wronged, I betrayed my country and I ask for forgiveness for the crimes I committed.”
Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Celestin Twahirwa warned the public against falsifying legal documents and instruments adding that “even those that hold such fake document will also be prosecuted.”
“Our security organs are well coordinated to an extent that no one can walk away after committing any form of crime. Forgery is an offense that is punishable by law,” said CSP Twahirwa.
He explained that the suspect will be charged with forgery or alteration of documents under article 609 of the penal code.
It states that “any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five years to seven years and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf3 million.”
