The Mayor of Rubavu District, Sheikh Hassan Bahame, was on Sunday evening arrested over graft. His arrest comes just days after the Police arrested Judith Kayitesi, the district notary on similar charges. Speaking to The New Times, Western Region Police spokesperson, Supt Emmanuel Hitayezu, confirmed the arrests, saying the two are accused of corruption-related offences. “Kayitesi received Rwf4 million from a contractor who wanted his file at the district fast-tracked. She was caught red-handed with the money and, during interrogations, she implicated Bahame,” said Supt Hitayezu. He added that Kayitesi alleged that Bahame had told her to meet the contractor and receive the money on his behalf. “The two are accused of corruption and we have since transferred the case to prosecution,” he said. The arrest of the two district officials follows an inquiry sanctioned by the district council into alleged flouting of tendering procedures in the construction of a modern market in Gisenyi town. The construction of the market, that started four years ago, stalled in its initial phase, resulting into the cancellation of the contract. However, information from sources close to the district indicates that the tender was awarded under suspicious circumstances, something that forced the district council to call for an investigation. “The contractor had received a title deed without paying a single coin which was completely wrong. You can’t issue a title deed for free,” a source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
