City businessman arrested in Eastern Province scam

Following the arrest last week of the Eastern Province’s Executive Secretary, Charles Gasana, businessman Alexis Mugarura also implicated in the same case has been arrested. Mugarura is suspected to have connived with Gasana to release an extra Rwf 1.5bn in addition to the Rwf1.7bn the government had originally approved for a building to house the provincial head-quarters. “We have arrested the businessman, he is in our hands now as investigations continue, and he will soon be arraigned before the courts,” confirmed Augustin Nkusi, the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) spokesperson. According to Nkusi, Mugarura a former MP, was arrested Thursday and is being detained at Remera Police station. “This businessman won a tender with a bid of Rwf1.7bn but he continued asking for additional money that amounted almost to 100 percent of the total cost of and he knew well that he could not solicit money beyond 20 percent,” Nkusi added. According to prosecution, Mugarura received the extra funds in three instalments of 330 m, 675m and 500m authorised by Gasana, allegedly in connivance with the detained former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Vincent Gatwabuyenge. “Many contractors ask for extra money under the pretext of unpredicted increase in prices of supplies. This ends up being another form of corruption,” he said. Ends