Police in Nyagatare District is holding a man accused of attempting to bribe a local leader, who was following up on his alleged medical-related business, without qualifications. Valens Habyarimana, who owns a pharmacy in Tabagwe Sector, was arrested red-handed on Monday while offering a bribe of Rwf100, 000 to the sector executive secretary. Preliminary investigations indicate that the local leader recently went to the suspect’s pharmacy, in line of his duty, only to find that Habyarimana was operating without required medical qualifications. “On Monday, Habyarimana came to his office with an envelope which he offered to the local leader, on opening it he found in Rwf100, 000. When the local leaders asked him what the money was meant for, he argued that it was just a token he was offering to him to ‘bury’ the pharmacy issue,” said Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police Spokesperson for the Eastern Province. “The local leader then called police, who arrested the suspect before leaving the office,” he added. Habyarimana argued that he studied in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that his academic transcripts were still in Goma. “Rwf100, 000 is more than enough for one to travel to Goma to collect his academic transcripts instead of committing a crime. This act is an indication that he could have been operating illegally without required academic qualifications, which will also be investigated,” IP Kayigi explained. He appealed to people dealing in medical related business, to follow required standards owing to the fact that health is a delicate issue. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
