Police have arrested two people in connection with forging and selling counterfeit vehicle mechanical inspection certificates and stickers.The duo who are currently at Remera Police Station, were arrested on Monday in Rusizi District, after their vehicles were found with forged certificates and wearing stickers that also bear forged signatures.There had been reports that some people were being conned by a clandestine group, which poses as agents of the force, and sell counterfeited documents. Other unconfirmed reports also indicated that the group could be working with some officers at the Motor vehicle inspection centre in Remera, who help them acquire such documents without going through the right procedures.One of the suspects, however, said he was not aware that the documents were forged.He said that he gave his car to one Baguma, a mechanic in Rusizi to bring it to Kigali for mechanical check up, and gave him Rwf220, 000, who he suspects is the one responsible.“He told me he knew someone at the centre, who would help him check my car immediately, because I needed it so quickly to continue with my activities,” said the suspect.He, however, acknowledged that he was aware of the inspection charges at the centre despite giving him more than what is charged.All vehicles are subjected to a periodic technical inspection and those that are not roadworthy are required to be repaired before hitting the road again. Vehicles with four tyres are inspected at a cost of Rwf 11, 800, commuters are screened for Rwf 17, 700 while vehicles with six wheels, with a capacity to carry between 19 and 29 passengers are charged Rwf 23, 600.Owners of vehicles with 10 wheels, with a capacity of more than 30 people pay Rwf 29, 500 each to access the centre’s services.The centre caters for both private and commercial vehicles and issues a certificate valid for one year and six months respectively after successful inspection.Another suspect said he was hired by one Kayisire, an entrepreneur in Rusizi, who he said brought the said forged certificate.“All I know is that he did not bring my car to Kigali for inspection, I saw him bringing the certificate and the sticker and put them on my car, but I don’t know where he got it,” he said.According to police, this is not a simple counterfeit, because it concerns security of the public.The centre was established in 2008 to examine the mechanical condition of vehicles, which are believed to be one of the causes of traffic accidents.A presidential decree No. 85/01 of September 2, 2002, regulating general traffic police and road traffic; stipulates, in part, that “vehicles not satisfying the set technical criteria will not be issued a certificate. Owners of vehicles using public roads without the certificate will be liable to a fine of Rwf 25, 000.”Since last July, the centre has inspected 60,084 vehicles.
