Police in Gatsibo District are holding a man identified as Jerome Ntegerejimana for allegedly attempting to withdraw Rwf520, 000 from another person’s bank account with false identification.

Ntegerejimana’s attempted plan was foiled on Wednesday when he tried to withdraw the money at a Bank Populaire branch in Kabarole.

Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kayigi, Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province explained that the suspect, who hails from Karangazi Sector in Nyagatare District, on the fateful day, went to the victim’s (name withheld) house claiming to be registering new residents in the area.

The would-be victim was a new tenant in the area.

"He took a national ID from the victim on pretence that he was going to register him in the Village book. He is suspected to have connived with the victim’s landlord, who gave him a bank account,” IP Kayigi explained.

Police is still searching for the landlord, who has since gone in hiding.

"He went to the bank, filled the form under the victim’s name but he was identified by a teller, who called Police and was arrested before he could flee the scene.”

Kayigi commended the vigilance of the teller and appealed to bank employees to always "double-verify” particulars of their customers before any service, to foil such criminal plans.

"These are financial criminal acts and the public is urged to strengthen cooperation to fight these and other crimes.”

Falsifying documents, signatures or impersonation attracts a term of imprisonment of between five to seven years and a fine of between Rwf300, 000 and Rwf3 million.