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Kinyarwanda
Police in the City of Kigali have arrested two employees of Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a client who had sought water connection services.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police spokesperson for the central region, said that the duo, both pump attendants for the utility body, was "arrested red-handed" on December 17, in Kicukiro District, Gikondo Sector, Kagunga Cell, Rebero Village receiving a bribe of Rwf50, 000.
CIP Kayigi explained that the victim reported a case to police about people who kept pestering him for money so as to open the water channel connecting to his construction site.
According to the victim, he was experiencing water interruptions, which was hampering the construction of his two-storied facility.
He then reached out to the pump attendants, who demanded money in order to rectify the problem.
On two occasions, the victim said, he paid a total of Rwf40, 000.
"I thought it was the norm... I was trying to ensure that I meet the deadline before I go back to Belgium; I didn't know these were free services. They would tell me that if I paid the required amount of money water would be reconnected," the victim, who is a Rwandan national based in Belgium, said.
"When the suspects continued demanding more money, it prompted the victim to seek information and to report the matter to Police, and they were arrested red-handed receiving another bribe of Rwf50, 000," CIP Kayigi said.
Pascal Tuhabwa, the Public Relations Officer for WASAC said there was no water rationing in this area adding that the water channel was always open.
It is alleged that the suspects would connect and disconnect this water channel
as a way getting money from their target.
“We have not had any water rationing in this area of recent, this was outright corruption because water has been available in the area” said Tuhabwa.
"Employees are not expected to receive any payment for corporation related services and where water rationing is necessary the public is informed," Tuhabwa added.
According to Tuhabwa, the utility body has administratively reprimanded some of their employees implicated in such fraudulent acts including sacking them.
"No money is paid to an individual for a service. If anyone asks for money in exchange for water related services call us on our toll-free line 3535 or other institutions like Police and RIB," Tuhabwa said.
