Rwanda National Police (RNP) has arrested 20 drivers in connection with attempting to bribe traffic police officers.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Nepo Mbonyumuvunyi, Commissioner for Inspection of Services and Ethics, the drivers were arrested in series of police operations conducted on June 28 on various highways across the country.
“All those arrested were caught red-handed. Eight were arrested in the City of Kigali attempting to give out bribes that ranged between Rwf2000 and Rwf15000, four others were arrested in the Northern Province,” said ACP Mbonyumuvunyi.
Four other suspects were arrested in the Eastern and Western provinces attempting to give bribes to police officers to cover up their traffic faults. The suspects are held at several police stations across the country.
“We encourage the public to be collaborative and always inform the police whenever they witness such malpractices,” he said
Although bribes are given out or received in secrecy, ACP Mbonyumuvunyi said, the public need to know that RNP has laid stringent measures against corruption and fighting it is a collective responsibility as well.
“We know of all the tactics used and we will stop at nothing to apprehend those who try to offer bribes and those that demand or receive it,” he said.
He cited article 640 of the penal code that stipulates that, “Any person who explicitly or implicitly offers, directly or indirectly proposes or promises a gift or any other illegal benefit, to a person in charge of a service, mission or mandate in order to render a service to him or her or somebody else, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of two to five years and a fine of two to ten times the value of the illegal benefit granted.”
The Commissioner for Inspection of Services and Ethics urged the public to exploit the anti-corruption toll free line 997 or 3511 for any police abuse whenever they encounter or suspect someone giving, receiving or soliciting a bribe.
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