Police yesterday arrested former director general of Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) Angélique Kantengwa over corruption, The New Times has learnt.

"Following investigations conducted in RSSB/Ultimate Developers Ltd (UDL), we have arrested Mrs Kantengwa (also former chairperson of UDL) over many offences," the head of Criminal investigation Department ACP Theos Badege confirmed last evening.

He cited some of the alleged offences as "misuse of property of public interest, appropriation of unlawful favors, illegal award of public tender, giving for free or charging at lower prices the delivery of public or private goods."

The suspect is detained at Kicukiro Police Station in Kigali as investigations continue, Badege added.

Sources at RSSB linked the arrest to several housing projects undertaken by the pension body when Kantengwa was at the helm.

"While Kantengwa was director general (for RSSB) and UDL chairperson, she is believed to have been involved in mismanagement and misappropriation of funds through duplication of payment to design companies on Gacuriro site (Vision City estate), double payment and unnecessary payment to some company's employees, awarding of tenders to the expensive bidder, awarding a tender  without open competitive bidding, among others," the source added.

If found guilty, she could face up to five years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from two to 10 times the value of the loss caused.

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