Police in Kigali have arrested a man suspected of conning several people of t over Rwf26 million.

Jean Yves Bizimungu, 35, is said to have conned the money from several people within city in the last five months.

He allegedly extorted money from people promising to pay back with interest after winning a court case that involves over Rwf200 million.

Police said this was a ‘ghost case’ the suspect was claiming to be battling in a property suit in which he claimed he would be awarded Rwf200 million.

Riding on the past

Police spokesperson Celestin Twahirwa said the suspect was also impersonating the son of Joseph Nzirorera, a deceased Genocide convict.

Nzirorera was minister for infrastructure before the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. He was charged with genocide crimes but he succumbed to illness in 2010 before his trial ended in Arusha.

Bizimungu reportedly targeted people who were familiar with his family.

"He lied to people that he was trying to regain the property of Joseph Nzirorera and that he needed money to begin lawsuits in order to acquire property worth over Rwf200 million. This trick enabled him to defraud some people who believed that he was actually going to pay back after winning this ghost court case,” Twahirwa said.

"He was reported by some concerned citizens, we followed up and investigated until we arrested him on Saturday. We have testimonies from victims.”

Twahirwa commended those who tipped off Police leading to his arrest.

He appealed to the public to beware of such individuals who use several tricks to con them of their hard-earned money.

"The public should know that we have people of this character out there. Getting in this kind of business is being shortsighted; instead people should establish ties with legitimate and established businesses,” he said.

"We have so far arrested a number of con men and will continue to trace those who conduct this and other criminal activities by working with the general population through community policing.”

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