17 drivers for attempting to bribe Police officers

{The Rwanda National Police (RNP) ongoing operation to stop road carnage on various highways across the country has apprehended 17 people in connection with attempting to bribe police officers.}

The suspects, majority drivers, were arrested since Monday as they allegedly tried to bribe officers as a way of escaping penalties after they were caught violating traffic rules.

Six suspects were arrested in Kigali, three in Nyamagabe while others were apprehended in the districts of Rubavu, Bugesera, Gatsibo, Huye, Rwamagana and Rwamagana.

Those arrested also include one Jean Louis Kayisire who was apprehended on February 17 in Bugesera District, Ntarama Sector allegedly trying to offer a bribe 10,000 Burundian francs, approximately Rwf5000, to a traffic officer after he had been caught trying to smuggle electrical equipment into the country.

Majority bribes ranged between Rwf2, 000 and Rwf5, 000.

“Police will not stop warning and apprehending those who try to make shortcuts with the law. It is an ill advised attempt to offer bribes to Police officers, because it will land the individual in more trouble than they were in,” Chief Supt. Celestin Twahirwa, Police Spokesperson warned.

“The law is clear…bribery is a crime and punishable as stipulated under articles 633 and 641 of the penal code, and police officers know it very well that corruption is zero-stance in the force,” he added, calling upon everyone to fight it “without fear or favour.”

Article 633, clause D, defines bribery as giving a gift in cash or any other illegal benefit, for the provision of a service or an act in unlawful way, or to reward the provider of the service.

Under article 641, any person who explicitly or implicitly offers, proposes directly or indirectly a gift or any other illegal benefit , to a person in charge of a service, mission or mandate or who promises it in order to render a service or to refrain from carrying out any usual duties, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five to seven years and a fine of twice to ten times the value of the illegal benefit he/she offered or promised.

Previously, RNP had arrested about 150 people since last October, majority drivers, for attempting to bribe officers to acquire services illegally or to buy their way out of varied offences.

Rwanda has been praised as a role model in the fight against corruption and bribery – and Rwanda National Police maintained zero-stance to graft.

Bribery is recognized as one of the world’s major hindrance to sustainable development.

Rwanda National Police has put several measures to combat graft including working with other anti-corruption institutions like Ombudsman Office and Transparency International-Rwanda, setting up Anti-Corruption and disciplinary units and pursuing e-policing, among others.

The force also established internal mechanisms such as establishing the Department of the Inspectorate of Services and Ethics, to keep officers in the check.