Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyabihu District has arrested two men attempted to bribe police officers.

The suspects identified as Jean Pierre Munyuzangando, 39 and Sekoma Bigirimana, 43 were arrested on Monday in Ikora commercial centre, Jenda Sector.

 According to the Chief Inspector of Police (CIP), Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police Spokesperson for Western region said that Bigirimana arrested red-handed trying to bribe a Police officer.

“Bigirimana intended to bribe a police officer with Rwf10, 000 on behalf of Munyuzangando after being caught illegally transporting pig meat in a bus from Hindiro Sector of Ngororero District heading to Nyabihu District,” CIP Kayigi said.

He added that earlier Munyuzangando managed to escape but showed up after his accomplice was arrested.

The spokesperson said that the arrest followed the information provided by passengers who were in the same bus with the suspect.

“He was in the bus carrying the bag full of meat. Passengers thought that it might be drugs and called the police. When they reached the check-point, Munyuzangando escaped but left behind his luggage, which was intercepted by the Police and found to be meat instead of drugs,” explained CIP Kayigi.

He added: “after the suspect sent Bigirimana to bribe a police officer with Rwf10, 000 and negotiate to recuperate the intercepted meat. The Police arrested him immediately and Munyuzangabo later showed up and joined his colleague.”  

CIP Kayigi warned that bribery or corruption will never be accepted neither in Rwanda National Police (RNP) nor in the country.
“RNP has embraced no tolerance towards bribery and corruption. The public should take that into account and abide by the laws instead of taking illegal shortcuts using money or any other form of bribes," he said.

CIP Kayigi also emphasized that fighting corruption tendencies should be everyone’s responsibility, the general public should stand up to fight against this act by reporting those involved in communities.

According to article 4 of the law on corruption, any person who solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service, commits an offense.  

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited received.

Penalties provided under this Article also apply to a person who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him/her or another person to have a service rendered or omitted.