Police in Kicukiro District are holding a man suspected of posing as a Police officer and attempting to solicit bribes from desperate motorists seeking licence. The suspect, Rwesa Kigage, was allegedly caught in the act on Saturday, after he had allegedly taken a bribe of Rwf150,000 from a one Eric Gentil Birasa, who was desperate to acquire a permit after failing driving test. Birasa was also arrested in connection with the act. The duo is currently held at Kicukiro Police Station as investigations continue. Chief Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kabanda, the spokesperson for the Department of Traffic and Road Safety, revealed that a third suspect identified as Muvunyi wa Karemera, was arrested on the same day in Remera, Gasabo District, after he attempted to also offer a bribe of Rwf150,000 to a Police officer in order to get a licence without doing tests. “Impersonation, like any other crime, is an ill-advised attempt and a serious crime. There are official channels through which Police services are offered and Rwanda National Police doesn’t have agents or non-uniformed individuals that link its services like driving licence, to the public. Anyone posing as a police agent is a criminal and should be immediately reported,” Kabanda said. He noted that operations and investigations will continue to ensure that those in the habit of making and issuing fake licenses are apprehended. In a bid to ease the process of acquiring driving permits, Police conduct driving licence tests in private driving schools on a monthly basis, while public tests are conducted quarterly. Police also introduced online registration and provides timely online feedback, among other initiatives, the Force says. A driver’s licence is issued within 14 days after a prospective candidate has provided all required documents. Proposing a gift or any other illegal benefit, to a person in charge of a service, attracts a term of imprisonment between five to seven years and a fine twice to 10 times the value of the illegal benefit offered or promised on conviction. Counterfeiting official marks is also punishable with a term of imprisonment between five to seven years and a fine ranging from Rwf300,000 to Rwf3 million.
