Duo intercepted with untagged minerals, attempts to bribe police officer

{Police in Ngororero District are holding two men who were intercepted transporting untagged mineral, but attempted to bribe an officer during the due course to buy their way out.}

The suspects are identified as Jean Damascene Humvumugabo and Diogene Kanyamuninja, who were on February 8 found with 100kg of untagged coltan.

According to the Western Region Police apokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, upon their arrest, they unsuccessfully tried to bribe an officer on duty with Rwf 167,000.

“An officer on duty encountered a motorcycle with plate number RC 758J, in Myiha Cell of Muhororo Sector, rode by Humvumugabo carrying a huge sack. When he checked, he found it was minerals and he immediately took him into custody for being in possession of illegally mined minerals,” said the spokesperson.

“Upon arresting Humvumugabo, Kanyamuninja showed up immediately and attempted to bribe the officer with Rwf167, 000 so as to release Humvumugabo, but was also arrested rightaway,” he added.

He referred to article 1 of the Ministerial Regulations No001/Minifom/2011 relating to fighting smuggling in mineral trading that stipulates that “Nobody is allowed to purchase or sell minerals without commercial registration.”

“Article 4 of the same instrument indicates that ‘transportation of minerals outside mining licensed areas (Concessions and Permits perimeters) is only allowed, when the consignment shows the source mine, its value and when it has the right tag’ which was violated,” CIP Kanamugire explained.

Any person, who receives or exports minerals and quarry substances without authorisation, under article 440 of the penal code, is liable to a term of imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of two times the amount of the value of the received or exported substances.

Under article 640, 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,also faces a term of imprisonment of two to five years and a fine of two to ten times the value of the illegal benefit granted or promised.

Source:Police