GASABO- Police are holding a taxi driver for allegedly bribing a police officer with Rwf20 000 so that the latter could facilitate the former’s vehicle that had failed to pass a mechanical test. The incident took place yesterday evening in Remera at the Vehicle Technical Inspection Centre.

According to the director of the centre CIP Dieudonne Banyundo, the driver by the names of Yusufu Muhawenimana approached the police officer after his vehicle had been tested twice and found with mechanical problems.

"He approached the officer and asked him if there was any way he could help him in letting his vehicle pass the test and later gave him Frw. 20 000. The officer instead brought him to my office and we arrested him,” Banyundo said during an interview.

He added that they wanted Muhawenimana to serve as an example as they had been warning drivers that any one found bribing police officers would be arrested.

"People should stop giving bribes to police officers because they are the ones who promote corruption in the force, if a police officer asks for a bribe from you, report him or her because there is zero tolerance on corruption,” said Banyundo at the CID offices yesterday.

Muhawenimana in an interview first admitted having given the bribe to the officer but later denied it saying that he was forced to make the statement after the police officer had lied that he gave him the bribe.

Banyundo advised drivers to always scrutinise the mechanical conditions of their vehicles since they are allowed to be there when they are being tested instead of trying to giving out bribes which can cause problems to them like being arrested.

The police force was recently named one of the most corrupt institutions in the country which prompted the acting Commissioner General of Police to make assurances that everything would be done to reverse this image.

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