A man who attempted to have a suspect released from Police custody ended up joining him after he allegedly tried to bribe the officer-in-charge.

Jerome Niyitegeka is currently detained at Gikondo Police Station where he allegedly committed the crime as he tried to seduce a police officer with Rwf10,000 to flee his employee detained at the same station over theft-related offences.

According to Emmanuel Hitayezu, Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, Niyitegeka, on Tuesday, went to Gikondo Police Station to visit Samuel Nzayisenga, who was working at his abattoir.

 Nzayisenga had been arrested the previous day in connection with theft of handsets and snatching ladies bags.

"Niyitegaka was granted access to Nzayisenga, but he later called out a police officer at the station, and tried to bribe him with Rwf10,000 to have his colleague released illegally, but the officer instead arrested him and seized the exhibit,” Hitayezu said.

"If someone is apprehended over a crime, relatives or friends should think of the legal way to prove his innocence before the courts of law, because contrary to that, you will find yourself facing the law as well,” Hitayezu warned.

"Niyitegeka is not the first and certainly not the last to be arrested in connection with corruption or attempted bribery, but the zero tolerance stance against such malpractices remains; there’s no leniency to anyone suspected of involvement in such tendencies. Corruption is a taboo in Rwanda and in police in particular,” he added.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw