Two arrested for attempting to bribe Police officers

{Two drivers have been arrested in connection with attempting to bribe police officers on duty as the force continues to demonstrate its zero stance to corruption.}

The suspects identified as Emmanuel Amour and Emmanuel Habumugisha were apprehended separately on May 20 in Nyabihu and Ngororero districts respectively.

Police said Amour, who was driving along the Mahoko – Cyanika highway in Nyabihu, tried to bribe an officer after the latter caught him drriving without a driver’s licence.

Amour allegedly tried to offer a bribe of Rwf1000 to illegally buy his way out of facing penalties.

Normally, anyone found driving without a permit faces a penalty of Rwf50, 000 payable within three days from the day of issuance of a traffic fine receipt.

The second suspect; Habumugisha, was arrested in Kabaya Sector in Ngororero when he also tried to offer a bribe of Rwf10,000 to a police officer to lure him into releasing a motorcycle that had been previously confiscated over violation of traffic rules.

“Instead of providing the documents as requested by officers, or following the laws in order to get services, some individuals resort to bribery, when they fully understand the consequences of such actions,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kabanda, the Spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety department, said.

“A crime cannot solve a crime; but it attracts more charges. It is better to follow the right procedures to acquire a service. Road users must at all times adhere to the traffic rules and regulations in order to maintain road safety.”

He commended the officers for denouncing bribery and for acting fast to arrest the suspects, which is a direct warning to drivers and other members of the public who seek to bribe their way out of wrongdoing.

He reminded residents and road users to always cooperate with Police by providing timely information through community policing in order to avert road accidents and other criminal activities.

At least over 150 people, majority drivers, have been arrested since November late last year in connection with attempting to bribe police officers.

Penalties for anyone convicted of corruption range between two and seven years and a fine of up to ten times the value of illegal benefit demanded as stipulated under articles 633 to 651 of the Rwanda penal code.