NYAGATARE- Police in Nyagatare District are holding a Kenyan lecturer at Umutara Polytechnic University over forged academic transcripts.

According to police, Peter Mawau, who has taught communication skills at the university since 2008, claimed to hold a Masters Degree in French from Kenyatta University in Kenya.

He was arrested on Tuesday this week.

"The case was first handled by the Office of Ombudsman but we later received an arrest warrant from the prosecution,” said a police official at Nyagatare Police Post.

Prosecutors at Nyagatare Intermediary Court, said the arrest followed inquiries at Kenyatta University which indicated he had never studied there.

"This is a crime that is punishable under the Rwandan penal code in its articles 204 and 204. Once convicted, the suspect is likely to serve between five to 15 years in jail,” said a judge at Nyagatare Intermediate Court.

Vitali Nyagengwa, the chief prosecutor at Nyagatare Intermediate Court, warned universities and other institutions of higher learning to always be vigilant when recruiting staff.

"These cases are becoming common. We call upon all universities to always scrutinise these people before recruitment,” he said.

The University’s acting Rector, Dr. Eugene Ndabaga, told The New Times that the management would wait for the verdict before taking any action.

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