Residents of Nyakabanda Cell, Niboyi Sector in Kicukiro District yesterday apprehended and handed to Police a man suspected of conning traders by camouflaging as a district employee.

The suspect (name withheld) is a resident of Rusororo Sector in Gasabo District. He was arrested on May 12, as he tried to solicit a bribe from one Emerta Dusabimana and Pierre Ndayisenga, whom he threatened to penalise for using polythene bags. Use of plastic bags in Rwanda is illegal and punishable by law.

He is currently detained at Kicukiro Police Station as investigations continue. The would-be victims own shops in the area.

It is alleged that the suspect first went to Dusabimana’s shop and introduced himself as a district employee conducting an inspection on the use of plastic bags and demanded Rwf50, 000 to spare her the penalties, which she promised to pay later.

He proceeded to Ndayisenga’s shop where he made similar threats. On suspicion that he could be a fraudster, people who were in the shop apprehended him after he failed to produce identification documents.

They then handed him over to the Community Policing Committee (CPC) in the area, who in turn handed him over to Police.

The suspect, who confessed to the act, argued that he was using the illegal act to get money to cover his mother’s medical bills.

The District Police Commander, Chief Inspector of Police Anasthase Karango, hailed the residents for the action.

He appealed to the public and businesses in particular to always demand identification documents from strangers who claim to be working for certain institutions to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.