{A man in Zivu Sector of Gisagara District was arrested on December 6 for allegedly trying to bribe a police officer on duty. }
Identified as Felix Harerimana, 29, the suspect offered Rwf10,000 to a traffic officer who had apprehended him for riding a motorbike (Plate Number 179 RCD) without a permit or other necessary legal documents.
The suspect is currently held at Ndora police station.
Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Hubert Gashagaza, Police spokesperson for Southern region, lauded the officer for acting professionally and warned the general public that corruption cannot be tolerated by the law enforcers.
“There are better ways to avoid problems than offer to offer bribes. Two wrongs do not make a right; people should know that acting within the law is important for a society that is moving forward. Corruption is a serious offence and anyone caught indulging in such will face the wrath of the law,” CSP Gashagaza urged.
The development coincides with Rwanda Government’s Anti-Corruption week that began on 29th November and ended today, aimed at weeding out the malpractice and sensitizing the general public about its consequences.
In a related development last week, police apprehended 17 individuals in separate incidences for attempting to offer cash bribes to traffic officers.
Article 641 of the Penal Code stipulates that any person who directly or indirectly offers a gift in order to get an illegal service or refrain from carrying out any usual duties shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five to seven years and a fine and a fine of twice or up to ten times the value of what they had offered in bribes.
Rwanda remains one of the least corrupt countries in the world, a reputation that has earned the country great trust from both private businesses and development partners.
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