Those arrested include one Edouard Kwizera, the owner of Real Engineers Limited, who had created a list of ghost employees and facilitating them to access the RSSB medical insurance services.

The three other suspects are those that Kwizera registered as his employees and helped them to pass their money through his company to acquire RSSB medical insurance card and related services.

They are Jean Yves Ndamukunda, 30, Mariam Uwimbabazi, 36, and Harima Kayitesi, 42, all arrested later in Gatenga Sector of Kicukiro District.

The quartet was showed to the media on Tuesday, September, 7, at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.

Kwizera disclosed to the media that he started registered ghost employees in December 2018 and that he had already registered 60 people, who were passing their RSSB medical insurance premiums through his company—Real Engineers Limited.

Bena Harima Kayitesi, who is not an employee of Real Engineers Limited, said that she was introduced to Kwizera by her young brother.

“I have been accessing the RSSB medical services since 2019. I started paying Rwf15, 000 per month through Real Engineers Limited but the monthly premiums increased to Rwf22, 500 which I have been paying.

I also later brought my other young sister, Mariam Uwimbabazi to access the same services through the same process.

Phenias Nsengiyumva, RSSB branch manager in Gasabo District, said that these are illegal beneficiaries, who also had other affiliates.

“Previously, RSSB insurance was exclusively for civil servants but it was later extended to private companies for their employees to access the same medical services. Together with RNP, we have been conducting thorough checks to find out if there are no irregularities and that is how these three people were identified," Nsengiyumva said.

RNP spokesperson, Commssioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that Police first arrested Kwizera.

“We remind owners and managers of companies to follow the law. Any intentions to evade taxes or any irregularities will lead to arrest to face the law. This should be a lesson and warning to any engaged in such illegal practices or thinking about it," CP Kabera said.

The suspects were handed over to RIB for further legal process.

Article 174 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; 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, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of not less that Frw3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.

In article 276, any person who, in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.