KICUKIRO -  A man and woman were Wednesday arrested by airport security operatives at Kigali International Airport and taken to Remera Police station after one masqueraded as a Rwandair Express worker.

The two were identified as Brake Baron Williams, a Canadian engineer with Rwandair Express and his Gabonese wife Mallina Moutsinga. 

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) disclosed to The New Times that Williams provided a Rwandair Express uniform to his wife so she could board a Kenya-bound plane without passing through immigration.

"The woman (Williams) claims to have come to visit him. However, her permitted time in Rwanda had expired. She was supposed to stay for 15 days but she stayed for over a month and I think she was trying to get off unnoticed by putting on a Rwandair Express uniform,” said a CID officer, who preferred anonymity. He added that the crime committed amounts to impersonation which is a criminal offence.

Quoting Article 217 of the Rwandan law, the officer said that anyone not fit for a job and who does not actually work under a given institution whether public, private, army or any other, and is found disguising him or herself as working for such, shall face the law.

If found guilty, be sentenced to prison for a period ranging from one month to two years or pay a fine ranging from Rwf 5,000 to 20,000, or both – prison and fine. On his part, Williams said that he does not no why he was being held ‘hostage’.

"This is the second time my wife is visiting me. I have friends in the immigration who know me and who always let me pass. I do not know why they are holding me today,” Williams complained.

When asked why she had put on a uniform for Rwandair Express when she does not work with them, Moutsinga said that it was just a way of getting to the plane.

"I am not a thief. It was just a way to get to the plane. It’s not a big deal,” she insisted.

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