Police yesterday paraded three people, including two housemaids, suspected to have stolen about Rwf10 million from their employer.

The house-help, identified as Solange Nikuze, and Sarafine Twizerimana, allegedly stole $11,400 and Rwf560,000 after breaking into their employer’s bedroom on December 11.

They were arrested in Kicukiro District on Wednesday, where all the money was also recovered and returned to the rightful owner, identified as David Isanga.

While narrating how they hatched the plan to steal the money, Nikuze said: "We planned it and we made a copy of the key to his bedroom, we waited for the day when he wasn’t home, we opened his room and stole the money.”

Her accomplice, Twizerimana, told journalists that after stealing the money, they panicked "because it was too much.”

Reacting to the incident, the Central Region Police Spokesperson, Emmanuel Hitayezu, said: "On December 11, Isanga filed a theft case upon realising that his money was missing.

"We immediately started investigations that led us to the two ladies. We found them with all the money and we returned it to the rightful owner.”

Hitayezu advised the public against keeping large sums of money at home to prevent temptations and ensure safety.

Upon receiving his money, Isanga expressed his gratitude toward Rwanda National Police for the quick response and recovering his money.

"I am overwhelmed by the professionalism and commitment RNP officers showed throughout the process. They worked day and night and explored all possible avenues to ensure that they get to the real suspects and recover my money,” Isanga said.

Explaining why he was keeping large sums of money at home, Isanga said: "I was supposed to pay off someone but he told me he was an Adventist and couldn’t take cash on a Saturday, that’s how I ended up keeping the money home.

"However, this is a lesson that everyone should learn from. It also signifies the importance of reporting to Police as soon as you encounter such a challenges because it also helps them to act in real time to intercept suspects and recover what was stolen,” Isanga added.

Forgery suspected paraded

In a related development, Police also paraded Ibrahim Kubwimana, who was arrested in connection with forgery and counterfeiting official documents including land titles, tender documents, Identification cards and stamps, among others.

At the time of his arrest, on Wednesday, Kubwimana was found in possession of 22 fake stamps, forged land titles, academic transcripts as well as a forged national ID.

It is alleged that he was forging and selling tender documents to those who were applying for bank loans.

"We received information about a habitual forger and trailed him up to his workplace in the city centre, where we caught him red-handed forging a national ID and a police service card,” Hitayezu said.

He was apparently selling them at Rwf160,000 each.

He warned the public against falsifying documents and instruments.

"Investigations are still going on to find out if there are accomplices. Even those that hold such fake documents will be prosecuted,” he warned.

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