Man arrested for lying to Police

POLICE on Saturday arrested 29-year old man after he lodged false allegations of extortion and theft against security operatives on patrol in Nyarutarama on Friday night.According to sources, the combined security team comprising police officers and military personnel, had arrested the man along others for minor but unspecified offences on Friday night in Kacyiru but freed them shortly thereafter.At the time of arrest, however, the suspect who was purportedly inebriated had in his possession Rwf232, 000, which the security officers presented to a friend, identified as Joseph Habineza for safe-keeping, fearing the former could lose it.However, the suspect, who is currently held at Remera Police Station, lodged a complaint with the Kacyiru Police Station the following day, claiming that the security personnel had stolen all his money.Speaking from the police station yesterday, the suspect, whose names are withheld as investigations continue, told journalists that Habineza had told him that the security personnel had given him only Rwf200, 000, which prompted him to lodge a complaint.“He [Habineza] told me that the rest of the money was taken by officers, which prompted me to report to police,” he claimed.He could, however, not clarify why he had initially reported that the security team had stolen the entire amount.In an interview with The New Times, Habineza dismissed the suspect’s claims, saying he was fully aware that he had with him the entire amount.“He came to my home on Saturday morning demanding his money. I told him I was given the money in public and I would give it to him in presence of people to avoid framing me in case I didn’t give it to him.” “When I declined, he decided to report that the officers had stolen his money,” recalled Habineza.Police were in the course of identifying the officers on duty on the said night, when Habineza showed up at the station with the money, national identity card and a mobile telephone handset, all belonging to the suspect.Police Spokesperson, Theos Badege described the suspect’s actions as “tarnishing the image of the officers and security organs, which is punishable by law.”If convicted, the suspect faces between six months and three years behind bars.

National

Man arrested for lying to Police