Co-op officials embezzled Rwf 900m

KIGALI - The Office of Prosecutor General has said that greedy leaders have caused huge losses to a number of cooperative institutions. According to prosecution, a total of Rfw926milion has been embezzled by leaders and members of various cooperatives in the country. Prosecutor General, Martin Ngoga, revealed that a recent audit conducted by his office found that Rwf 889million and $65,000 was stolen by either leaders or members of twenty cooperatives audited so far. “The embezzlement ranges from as much as Rwf200 million by just one person to something like Rwf100,000,” Ngoga told The New Times yesterday. He warned that the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) was going to seriously deal with theft in cooperatives. “We shall deal with them individually and get to the bottom of the matter,” Ngoga said. He named some of those cooperatives as Corinyaburiba in Bugesera, Kopakabi in Rwamagana, Twibumbe (Cocurirwa) also in Rwamagana, Co-dervam in Nyagatare, Codace in Nyarugenge and Cogiproca in Gicumbi. However, the Prosecutor General said that the suspects have been given a limited period to refund the embezzled funds or the law takes its course. “That opportunity is available, but it is limited. If someone disregards this call, very soon we will get there and he will be sent where he needs to be sent,” Ngoga warned. As part of efforts to curb embezzlement in cooperatives, Ngoga announced that the prosecution had instituted a Special Unit headed by the Deputy Prosecutor General, Alphonse Hitiyaremye, to handle the first twenty cases received. He said that his office would closely monitor cases that fall within the jurisdiction of ordinary courts and in mediators’ committees. “These will be handled under our close supervision. We will make sure we organize the mediators’ committees to attend to the cases that fall within their jurisdiction and make sure they are resolved, if not, we will send them to ordinary courts,” he added. Ends