Rwanda National Police

Two people were arrested separately on Thursday as they attempted to bribe Police officers on duty to influence unlawful decisions.

One of the suspects; Jean Claude Ntacyogumara was taken into custody in Kabasha Village, Nyirataba Cell in Kivuye Sector of Gicumbi District. He had earlier been intercepted by administrative security personnel—DASSO—smuggling palm oil.

“As means to avoid further legal actions, Ntacyogumara tried to give them a bribe of Rwf6000. The DASSO personnel informed the police and Ntacyogumara was caught in the act,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana said.

Another suspect, Annanias Hitayezu was arrested is detained at Bungwe Police station in Gicumbi after he tried to bribe a Police officer at the same station to release his car that had been impounded over grave traffic-related offences. Hitayezu was giving a bribe of Rwf20, 000.

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) zero-stance to corruption has seen hundreds of people majority drivers arrested over the past years for trying to bribe police officers.

“As a national policy and Rwanda National Police in particular, corruption or bribery is a vice that can’t be entertained in any way. It’s a high impact crime that influences illegal decisions, affects and undermines service delivery,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

He warned the general public against such malpractices. “When you analyse majority cases related to bribery, there is an illegal action one is trying to influence; either one has been caught in a crime, buying a service he or she is not entitled to have or wants more than is supposed to have,” he said, warning of “no mercy” to anyone that will be caught.