Police in Kigali are holding three people suspected to have stolen $10,638 (about Rwf7.7 million) from Bank of Kigali (BK) Nyarutarama branch.

The suspects, currently detained at Remera Police Station, were identified as Samuel Minja Kabano, an employee of the bank, Jean Marie Vianney Ndagijimana, a private security guard, and Mediatrice Ikibasumba, a cleaner at the bank.

The three were arrested on Thursday following a theft complaint filed to Remera Police Station by BK management.

Police investigations carried out a thorough scrutiny of the bank’s CCTV footage, where evidence linking the suspects to the missing money was discovered.

According to Police, the footage showed unusual movements within the bank and collaboration among the suspects on the day the money went missing.

The footage also showed exchange of an envelope between Kabano and Ikibasumba, which allegedly contained the stolen money, Police said.

Kabano, a banking officer, is alleged to have stolen the money from the safe.

Kigali Metropolitan Police spokesperson Modeste Mbabazi said during the investigations, Police found the money at Ikibasumbazi’s home in Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District.

Ikibasumba later told journalists that she had been asked to keep the money by Kabano.

Mbabazi warned bank employees not to be tempted to steal, saying Police have all means to track them down.

"The arrest of these people should send signals to whoever might be thinking of robbing a bank or committing any form of crime. Police are always on alert to avert such crimes and where they are committed, the offenders cannot elude justice,” said Mbabazi.

He called on financial institutions to always partner with Police to ensure suspects are arrested before they run away.

Mbabazi also appealed to bank management to devise stringent mechanisms that prevent their money from getting stolen.