Rwanda National Police

A man in Gatsibo District, Muhura Sector, has been arrested for allegedly impersonating Rwanda Energy Group (REG) staff in order to fleece  unsuspecting residents promising to connect their houses with electricity.

David Nkotanyi, 25, was arrested on Saturday, June 25, after residents became suspicious of his dealings and reported him to the Police.

At the time of his arrest, Nkotanyi had already collected money amounting to Frw31,000 from two families, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region.

?Last month, Nkotanyi reached out to Jean Pierre Akijuru and Drocelle Akimana; two neighbouring residents in Nshoro village of Taba cell, guising as an employee of REG, promising to connect their houses with electricity. He took copies of their National ID and Land Title, and each paid him Frw15,500. Nkotanyi made them believe that the money was for registration and cash-power meter, and he disappeared,? said SP Twizeyimana.

The victims, he added, called the Police on Saturday after they saw him in Muhura trading center, where he was arrested.

SP Twizeyimana advised the public to be vigilant against such fraudsters and not to pay money to individuals claiming to be officials offering certain services.

The suspect was handed over to RIB at Muhura station for further investigations.

Article 279 of the law determining offences and penalties states that; any person who, without tittle usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one of these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official or publicly wears a costume, a uniform, badge or an emblem with an intention to mislead the public, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, with a fine of not less than Frw300,000 and not more than Frw500,000.

Obtaining property of another person by deception, under article 174 of the same law, is punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 3 years, and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million.