Police arrests former Mayor after being conned of millions

WESTERN PROVINCE RUSIZI — Police in Rusizi district at the weekend arrested the former District Mayor, Jean Pierre Turatsinze and his former Executive Secretary, Boniface Bajyanama for alleged misuse of public funds. Their arrest comes about two months after the District Advisory Council (DAC) fired them for alleged financial mismanagement and embezzlement. According to the Rusizi District Police Commander, Superintendent Danny Ndayambaje, the arrests come amidst reports that during their tenure, they were conned of about Rwf5 m by certain men who were posing as a donors. One of the conmen is said to have written a letter to the former Mayor in early June 2008, promising the district an assortment of facilities through a UK based charity organisation called Aid for Humanity. The conmen then requested for US$ 8,898 to transport the facilities which included, 10 Printers, 10 generators of 500 KVA type, five refrigerators, 10 Samsung televisions, 10 Yamaha Motorcycles and 10 photocopying machines to Rwanda. Turatsinze and his co-accused allegedly withdrew the money from the District’s Bank Account in the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) branch in Kamembe and sent it to the conmen without the knowledge of both the DAC and the District Executive Council. Police identified the conmen as Sylla Yaya who claimed to be a Malian national and Cisse Ali from Ivory cost. The money was reportedly deposited on the conmen’s separate accounts in four instalments in 2008. Ends