A man suspected of impersonating Rwanda Energy Group (REG) employees and defrauding people has been arrested in Gicumbi District.

Helpide Mwumvaneza was arrested on January 26 in Kinihira Sector following information provided by one of the would-be victims, the police said.

It is alleged that the suspect was charging Rwf350,000 from each victim, apparently after making them believe that REG intended to put its infrastructure including electric poles, in their land, and that he was in position to facilitate them inflate their compensation.

Inspector of Police (IP) Innocent Gasasira, the Police spokesperson for the Northern Province, said: "We received information from one of the residents about a man who was calling himself an employee of REG and asking people to give him money in order to put them on the list of those who will be compensated.”

"When we investigated, we found out that, although the energy group has such projects, it was yet to roll them out in this area and Mwumvaneza was not an employee of REG. We worked with one of the would-be victims and the culprit was arrested red-handed receiving the money,” he added.

Mwumvaneza is currently detained at Kinihira Police Station in Gicumbi.

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