Province accountant Vanishes with Rwf10m

NORTHERN PROVINCE - The National Police is hunting for an accountant from the Northern Province who disappeared with Rwf10 Million, The Sunday Times has learnt. Emery Sebihira Nkurunziza, 34, escaped in November when the Auditor General was carrying out an investigation on the province. Sebihira managed to systematically withdraw money from the province’s account at the National Bank by forging Governor Boniface Rucagu’s signature and those of other signatories. In an interview with The Sunday Times on Friday, the Minister of Local Government Protais Musoni, confirmed the development and added that Sebihira’s case was forwarded to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He said that he believes Sebihira will be tracked down. “The issue became suspicious to the Auditor General’s team, when Northern Province was using more money than they used to annually,” said Musoni. When contacted, the deputy CID chief Tony Kuramba told The Sunday Times that Sebihira is believed to be in North Kivu in DR Congo and the police have launched surveillance on his farm at Gisenyi and his home at Kicukiro. “Unfortunately we don’t have Interpol offices in DR Congo, but I hope we will track him. We appeal to any member of the public who may know his whereabouts to contact the police immediately,” Kuramba added. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the Governor of the Northern Province, Boniface Rucagu admitted that the accountant forged his signature and it appeared to be real. This allowed him to withdraw the money every month totaling to Rfw 10m. “I informed the local government, Police and National Security Services about the issue, unfortunately he escaped to DR Congo,” Rucagu stated. He also revealed that he had informed the public service of Sebihira’s disappearance. “I have written to the Ministry of Public Service informing them so we are waiting for their reply,” Rucagu added. Ends