Two people have been arrested in connection with attempting to extort money from businessmen in Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts and threatening to cause harm to their families if they didn't comply.

Hussein Karangwa alias Mahungu and Frank Mugabo were arrested early this week, separately, following about two weeks of investigations.

How they did it

Assistant Commissioner of Police Theos Badege, Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said the duo have been issuing death threats to businessmen demanding that they deposit money on provided mobile money accounts.

"On October 9, two businessmen in Nyagatare and Gatsibo filed a case about unknown people who were sending them threatening SMS and calling them demanding money and further threatening that if they don’t do so, they will torch their houses and do harm to their families," ACP Badege explained.

"On October 11, a brewery depot in Ryabega in Nyagatare belonging to one of the businessmen that the suspects had contacted was actually torched and a house of another trader in Gatsibo at a place called Cyangarama was also set ablaze but the fire was put out before escalating.

Later, four other businessmen also received the same threats and here, criminals demanded Rwf500, 000 and told them that what happened in Ryabega  and  Cyangarama would also befall them, if they didn't comply".

ACP Badege explained that the two, who have been imprisoned on several occasions had been in hiding since.

"After thorough investigations, we identified who the people were and arrested them”.

It is the third time for Karangwa to be arrested. He was previously arrested and imprisoned for drug trafficking and fraud while Mugabo was also imprisoned for cattle rustling.

"Investigations are still ongoing to find out other people involved because all the phone numbers they used to call and threaten people are registered in other people’s names," explained Badege.

"The threat is now over, the situation has been contained and those that were facing these threats should relax".

"These are unusual serious criminal activities and anyone planning to engage in such are advised to refrain because they will be arrested," he warned.

Offences

He said the duo will face written threats and arson charges under articles 172 and 398 of the penal code, respectively.

Arson attracts a prison sentence of ten to 25 years, if convicted, while anyone found guilty of issuing written threats face a term of imprisonment of between one to three years.