Two suspected impersonators arrested in Karongi

RNP News.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has arrested two people in Karongi District,
who were masquerading as members of security organs and fleecing unwitting members of the public.

The suspects arrested on Wednesday, July 7, are identified as Jean Pierre Niyoyita, 28 and Fred Ntambara, 48.

The Police spokesperson for the Western region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that the impersonators were defrauding traders through threats and intimidation.

He added that they were demanding Frw100, 000 from business people.

“They were guising as members of security organs enforcing the government directives on preventing the spread of Covid-19, and were threatening traders with arrests unless they give them money.

By the time of arrest, they had already defrauded three people of Frw50,000, who were operating bars in Bwishyura Village, Nyarusazi Cell, Bwishyura Sector,” said CIP Karekezi.

The duo was also in the process of fleecing two other people of Frw40, 000.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Bwishyura station for further investigation

Article 281 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person, who claims to be attached to a legally regulated profession, a certificate, an official diploma or any other entitlements granted by a competent authority to a person meeting requirements set by a competent authority, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to an imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) month and less than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Frw500,000 and not more than Frw1 million.

In article 279, it partly states that any person who without tittle usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official… commits an offence.

Upon conviction, the offender faces between two and three years in prison, and a fine of not more than Frw300,000 but not more than Frw500, 000.

In article 174, any person who by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than three years and a fine of between Frw3 million and Frw5 million.