Rwamagana police nabbed a notorious conman (name withheld) after he tried to defraud a renowned businessman in the district yesterday. The police said the suspect was wanted in several districts for alleged fraud. He is a resident of Rutare Sector. The accused testified that he started his business in 2009. He cheated naive business persons lying to them that he would provide them information that would save their lives from potential killers. Several cases were opened against him in various police stations in Kigali, Gicumbi, Nyacyonga, Rulindo and Karenge. Senior Superintendant Benoit Nsengiyunva, Eastern Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest, noting that three other people were being hunted for similar crimes. He said the suspect was the leader of a gang that moved from one district to another conning businesspersons. “Over the last number of days, we have been pursuing these conmen throughout the country. Now that we have got the prime suspect, we will get others too,” Nsengiyunva said. He cautioned the public against fraudsters in their communities. “This man went and told a business man that he had been hired to kill him. He pretended to be good to spare his life and asked the businessman to pay for the kindness in cash. The man was however sceptical and reported the matter to the police,” the spokesman told The New Times. Jean Baptiste Murenzi, a businessman who was approached by the suspect, said he almost fell for the conman’s tricks. “This is a smart thief, the way he approached me was unbelievably convincing…I was almost agreeing that some people hunted me. He has that kind of language that would lead you into a trap. I letter gave it a second thought, which proved him wrong before I called the police to come in,” he said. Murenzi, who is also the chairman of the business community in the district, said that he would spearhead a campaign to isolate such conmen. “We as members of the private sector should raise awareness campaign so that we do not fall prey to the conmen. I am told so many of our colleagues were conned in similar manner, we must stop it”.
