Gatsata police in Kigali City,  are holding a man suspected of minting counterfeit money estimated at Rwf 500 000, which he circulated in bars.

Venna Hakorimana, 28, was arrested after a tip off to Police by owners of a Guest House in Gatsata-Nyabugogo.

Police Spokesperson Marcel Higiro yesterday told journalists that the Guest House owners smelt a rat after noticing that Hakorimana was only spending the Rwf 2000 note on all his payments. He added that even on something worth the change he had received, he would still pull out Rwf 2000.

"Guest house owners took Rwf 2000 to clarify with the bank. The bank confirmed that the notes were counterfeit and tipped us,” Higiro said.

The police then arrested him with all the fake money and the balance he had collected hidden in his stockings.

Hakorimana said that he got the alleged counterfeit money from a Ndagizimana to whom he claims to have previously sold a phone.

"I got money from Ndagizimana after I had sold a phone to him. I did not make this money,” denied Hakorimana. 

Higiro said that police suspect that Hakorimana was working with others still at large and appealed to Kigali residents to be vigilant and report such cases.

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