Habimana was arrested Wednesday, February 16, in Rukoro Village, Mpenge Cell of Muhoza Sector with the stolen motorcycle, TVS registration number RD 371J.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Regional Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) for the Northern Region, said that Habimana was also masquerading as a soldier.
“Habimana was identified and reported by the security personnel of the motorcycle cooperative in Musanze District. They were prompted to call the Police after they realized that he did not a member of their cooperative, had no documents allowing him to engage in taxi-moto transport business, no driver’s license nor documents for the motorcycle,” Superintendent Ndayisenga said.
It was then established that he allegedly stole the motorcycle and the search for the rightful owner of the moto is still underway.
The RPCEO added that the suspect was claiming to be a soldier in Rwanda Defence Force as a way of attempting to prevent arrest.
Habimana was handed over to RIB at Muhoza station for further investigations.
“Theft is a crime regardless of who you are or where you work. When you attempt to claim to be someone that you are not, you will also be committing another offences, which you will also face before the law,” Superintendent Ndayisenga warned.
Article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 281; any person who claims to be attached to a legally regulated profession, a certificate, an official diploma or any other entitlements granted by a competent authority to a person meeting requirements set by a competent authority, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to an imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) month and less than six (6) months and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand (Rwf 500,000) Rwandan francs and not more than one million Rwandan francs (Rwf1,000,000) or only one of these penalties.
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