Valentin Habyarimana, 36, who was found with a forged RDB service card, was guising as a member of the team fighting outlawed and expired goods, and traders, who are not using Electronic Billing Machine (EBM).
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Habyarimana had issued receipts to two traders, whom he had threatened to pay a fine of combined Rwf620,000.
“Habyarimana first went to two shops owned by Theoneste Nkuranga and Clementine Mukankusi, whom he was trying to defraud Rwf320,000 and Rwf300,000, respectively. He issued them receipts and continued to other shops, but the first two would-be victims called the Police immediately after suspecting him to be a conman.
Police arrested him red-handed as he received the money and handed him over to RIB at Kibungo station,” SP Twizeyimana explained.
Article 279 of the law determining offences and penalties states that; any person who, without title usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one of these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official or publicly wears a costume, a uniform, badge or an emblem with an intention to mislead the public, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, with a fine of not less than Rwf300,000 and not more than Rwf500,000.
Obtaining property of another person by deception, under article 174 of the same law, is punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 3 years, and a fine of not less than FRwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
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