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Kinyarwanda
A man identified as Ibrahim Mugisha, 36, was arrested on Monday, February 8, in Tabagwe Sector of Nyagatare District with counterfeit money amounting to Frw120,000.
The Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana said that Mugisha was identified after he paid counterfeit currency notes in a restaurant located in Tabagwe Cell.
"Mugisha went to the restaurant, ordered for tea and paid with fake bills amounting to Frw2,000 but the attendant was vigilant to notice that the bills were fake; they called the Police," CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: " Police officers found Mugisha at home with other fake notes amounting to Frw110,000. It later came to light that he had also paid other Frw8,000 for house rent using the same fake currency notes. All the bills were in the denominations of Frw2000."
Mugisha feigned knowledge that the money was counterfeit but disclosed that he got it from a Ugandan national whom he identified as Alexis Byamukama.
CIP Twizeyimana warned against such financial crimes, which affect businesses and called for information sharing on anyone involved in counterfeiting or distributing fake monies.
Article 269 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general states that “any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.”
Upon conviction, they are liable imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.
