Eight drivers arrested over attempted bribery

Eight drivers are detained at Mageragere Police Station in Nyarugenge District for allegedly attempting to bribe police officers. The suspects, who include drivers of public vehicles and heavy trucks, were apprehended separately on various highways recently. Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare said the suspects were arrested after they tried to offer money to officers to drop penalties after they were found breaching road traffic rules. Some of them had no driving licence, were found with expired mechanical inspection certificates or lacked transport authorisation normally issued by the national utility agency, RURA. The bribes range between Rwf1, 000 and Rwf5, 000. ACP Gatare warned drivers against violating traffic rules and trying to bail themselves out through illegal channels. “You don’t correct a mistake with a mistake. We have always appealed to road users to respect traffic rules to avoid accidents but some of them have defied these repeated calls leading to loss of life,” ACP Gatare noted. “If you are caught, accept penalties as stipulated because if you try to bribe officers, you will face the consequences,” he added. He appealed to the public to strive for quality services and report those who try to solicit bribes. Penalties for anyone convicted of corruption range between two and seven years in prison and a fine of up to ten times the value of illegal benefit offered as stipulated under articles 633 to 651 of the Penal Code. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Eight drivers arrested over attempted bribery