Rwanda National Police (RNP) is holding four men who attempted to defraud Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) of Rwf30.5 million using a forged cheque.

Police identified the suspects as Gilbert Mazimpaka, the mastermind, Jean-Phillipe Makombe and Jean-Claude Kayiranga, and a cab driver who was driving the trio.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Celestin Twahirwa, said Mazimpaka, on Friday at around midday, walked into KCB main branch in the city centre and deposited a forged cheque instructing a transfer of Rwf 30.5million from one of the client’s account, to his account in Bank of Kigali.

"As soon the transfer was authorized, the victim received SMS alert indicating the transfer of the money from his account and hurriedly notified the KCB that he had not made or instructed any transactions, and KCB immediately inform BK and the Police about the shoddy transfer,” said ACP Twahirwa.

"We immediately worked with the banks to have the suspects arrested. Around 2pm, Mazimpaka arrived at BK main branch in a cab with Makombe and Kayiranga, to withdraw the money. Police had already deployed officers, who arrested them as they attempted to withdraw the money,” he added.

The suspects had already withdrawn Rwf2 million using mobile banking, at the time of their arrest.

ACP Twahirwa said that the would-be victim still has a cheque leaflet with its exact serial number that the suspects had forged.

Police records indicate that Kayiranga was in September last year arrested over a similar crime while Police were still searching for Makombe over bank robbery related cases.

"The suspects have all admitted to these crimes and their case files will soon be forwarded to the prosecution after thorough investigations. We highly appreciate how the two banks reacted instantly, informed us and facilitated the arrest. The public should always share information on any dubious practices, that’s how we can collectively eliminate such crimes,” ACP Twahirwa said. 

Rwanda National Police created a Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) and an Economic and Financial Crime Unit as means to combat financial fraud, including money laundering and financing terrorism handled by the former.

The FIU, which operates under the National Bank of Rwanda, froze and stopped suspicious bank transactions equivalent to US$210,000 in 2012, US$160,000 in 2014 and 22 bank accounts were frozen in 2015, although these accounts were unfrozen after thorough investigations.

In another development, four other people were arrested for attempting to bribe police officers in Nyagatare District in order to get away with traffic offences.

Alexandre Turihiwe, Gedeon Bizumutima, Onesphore Rukundo and Jean Paul Rutagarama are being held at Nyagatare police station. 

Bizumutima and his driver, Turihiwe, were both arrested in Rukomo Sector as they attempted to bring a traffic police officer with Rwf5,000, after their vehicle was found without a valid mechanical inspection certificate.

On the other hand, Rukundo was also apprehended in Rukomo for driving without a driver’s licence, while Rutagarama, who was arrested in Nyagatare Sector after he wired Rwf15,000 to a police officer’s mobile account as a way of retrieving his confiscated driver’s licence for breaching traffic rules.

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