The traffic officer had caught Habumugisha driving a Daihatsu vehicle, registration number RAB 136D, which had an expired automobile inspection certificate.
The Frw2,000 bribe was, therefore, Habumugisha’s attempt to prevent further fines for the traffic offence.
Driving a vehicle with no or expired automobile inspection certificate attracts a penalty of Frw25,000.
“The arrest of Habumugisha was part of the ongoing Rwanda National Police (RNP) operations against motorists, who violate traffic rules and regulations leading to accidents and loss of lives. Some people drive or ride while drunk and other intentional offences, which put lives at risk and which will not be tolerated,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Western Region Police spokesperson, said.
He warned against attempts to bribe Police officers.
“What was a traffic offence punishable with a fine is now a criminal act, which should have been prevented in the first place by ensuring that the vehicle has a valid inspection certificate but also paying the traffic fines when caught,” SP Karekezi advised.
Under article 4 of law n° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption, any person who solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.
Penalties provided under this article also apply to a person, who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him/ herself or another person to have a service rendered or omitted.
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