Driver arrested over attempted bribery

{Police in Rusizi District is holding a driver who knocked down a pedestrian and attempted to bribe a judicial police officer who was handling the case, to kill evidence. }

Ernest Mukeshima was arrested as he attempted to give the officer Rwf15, 000 so that he could drop the case and give him back his driver’s license, which had been confiscated. According to the Western Region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, the suspect who was driving a Toyota Corolla RAC 636L, committed the traffic offence on December 8 in Kamembe Sector.

“Mukeshima knocked and injured Kabera Cyriaque on October 8; following the accident police confiscated his driving permit he later showed up at the police station and tried to bribe the judicial police officer who arrested him instantly. He is now held at Kamembe police station,”‎ CIP Kanamugire said. “In situations of accidents, police confiscates a driver’s license and hands it over to the prosecution as part of the items that constitutes a dossier.”

In a bid to tighten the grip against corruption, police established Anti -corruption and Public Fund Embezzlement Unit’ that will handle all cases related to the crimes. “The officer acted in a professional manner and the public should be warned that Rwanda National Police has laid stringent measures against corruption since it’s criminalized under articles 640, 641 and 642 of the Rwanda penal code,” said Kanamugire.

Article 640 of the penal code 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 years to five years and a fine of two to ten times the value of the illegal benefit granted.”

Demanding or receiving a bribe under article 641 attracts a sentence between five and seven years and s fine of twice to ten times the value of the illegal benefit offered or promised.