Rusizi: Three grass root leaders arrested over allegedly soliciting bribes

The suspects include the executive secretary of Nyamihanda cell and the representative of women council in the same cell of Butare sector in Rusizi district.

The crime was committed between February and April last year.

They were arrested on 30th January 2022 on accusation of soliciting and receiving bribes worth Rwf843,000.

The Spokesperson of RIB, Dr. Thierry Murangira has said that whoever caught in such crimes won’t be tolerated.

“No one should be asked to offer bribery to be registered among beneficiaries of Government’s funds allocated to support citizens. We request grass root leaders and concerned people to shun such acts of corruption which RIB won’t tolerate,” Dr. Murangira said.

“We request citizens to provide information anytime a leader solicits money as an exchange for services to be delivered. We also thank citizens who continue to provide tip off and commend that collaboration,” he added.

The trio is detained at Nyakabuye RIB Post as investigation is underway to send their files to the Prosecution.

Article 4 of the law N° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption states that any person who offers, 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 (5) years but not more than even (7) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.

In article 174 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general states that; any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.