Rwanda National Police

Three people including a hawker, fuel smuggler and motorcyclist without documents were arrested in Kigali and Nyamagabe for allegedly attempting to bribe their way out of legal actions, when Police apprehended them.

They were arrested separately on December 18 and go by the names, Vincent Nizeyimana, 36, Aristide Habimana, 37, and Gabriel Nshimiyamana, 21 respectively and are currently detained at Nyamirambo, Muhima and Kaduha police stations respectively.

Nizeyimana, who is a vendor, is arrested on charges of offering a bribe of Rwf1, 000 after he was held while vending clothes in an area not meant for the activity in Nyabugogo.

Habimana on the other hand also tried to offer Rwf100, 000 to prevent the officer from arresting him in Muhima sector, Nyabugogo cell after he was found with smuggled fuel.

The third suspect, Nshimiyimana was arrested while trying to bribe a police with Rwf2000 after he was found riding a motorcycle without a driver's licence.

This brings a total to 46 civilian suspects arrested since the beginning of this month in connection with corruption-related crimes.

The District Police Commander (DPC) of Nyarugenge, SSP Edward Kayitare lauded the professionalism that police officers have continued to demonstrate while carrying out their duties

He however warned the public against committing such illegal acts and urged them to use right channels provided by the law.

“Offenders should know the laws governing them and if they violate the rules, they will be penalized. Once you bribe an officer, it is another offense on its own which is punishable by the law, so people should desist from it because it brings no good at all,” he said.

Article 641 of the Penal Code stipulates that any person who directly or indirectly offers a gift in order to get an illegal service or refrain from carrying out their duties shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of between five and seven years, or a fine of twice up to ten times the value of what they had offered as a bribe.

In the last three months, 77 individuals have been arrested for this crime of bribery and are in the course of facing the consequences for their actions in different courtrooms across the country.