SOUTRHERN PROVINCE HUYE — The Police have cancelled driving permit exams held at the National University of Rwanda at the weekend, over allegations of bribery. Superintendent Bertin Mutezintare, the district Police Commander, said they reached the decision after receiving complaints from some members of the public. “We intervened after learning that people sitting for driving permit exams were asked to pay an extra Rwf500 under the pretext that the money was meant to ‘facilitate’ the work of the examiners. We considered this an act of corruption and the exams were stopped forthwith,” said Mutezintare. The money was reportedly collected by the students’ guild, AGNEUR from over 400 students and other university staff who were meant to do practical and theoretical driving permit exams. “We discovered the anomalies after theoretical exams for provisional driving licences were done. They were cancelled immediately and practical exams suspended,” added the Police Commander. One student, who preferred anonymity, also said AGNUER officials asked them to make the payment as ‘facilitation’. “They said that the money would cater for feeding, lodging and other expenses to be incurred by the examiners,” said the student, and added that they were given sheets bearing the stamp of AGNEUR. However, the AGNEUR President, Deo Bachinga, dismissed as false, claims that the money was meant to bribe the Police. “We made our own internal arrangement to provide for services like water and lunch. We had already collected Rwf180, 000 from 360 people to foot this bill,” said Bachinga. According to the Police, people wanting to sit for driving permit exams are normally required to pay Rwf5,000 which is deposited in the government treasury. Mutezintare, explained that the money collected by the students was not sanctioned by the Police and it was illegal. “These are illegal fees. Police officials on duty are fully facilitated to do their work. This should send a message to all people with intensions to bribe the Police that there is zero tolerance to corruption in the Police force,” said Mutezintare. “Traffic Police authorities will set a new date when the exams will be redone,” he said. Ends
