The suspect was apprehended in Kamembe Sector, where the police had deployed a mobile vehicle inspection station to bring services closer to motorists in Rusizi and neighboring districts. The man was seeking an inspection for his Toyota Land Cruiser.

Western Province Police Spokesperson, SP Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, explained that instead of addressing the mechanical faults in his vehicle, the suspect tried to bribe the officer to obtain the certificate.

“On Monday, March 3, the driver brought his vehicle for inspection but failed the test due to several mechanical defects, including a malfunctioning handbrake and steering apparatus,” said SP Karekezi.

“Rather than fixing these issues, the suspect returned on Wednesday morning and offered the inspecting officer 50,000 RWF, consisting of ten 5,000 RWF notes. The officer immediately reported the attempt to his superiors, leading to the suspect’s arrest,” he added.

According to Article 143 of Presidential Decree No. 85/01 of September 2, 2002, vehicles that do not meet the required standards cannot receive an inspection certificate. A follow-up inspection is mandatory to confirm that identified defects have been corrected before issuing the certificate.

SP Karekezi reminded vehicle owners and drivers that failing a vehicle inspection test is an opportunity to repair their vehicles to prevent mechanical-related accidents that could endanger their lives and the lives of others.

He further emphasized that vehicles with identified faults should only be driven to a garage for repairs and back to the inspection station for re-evaluation. Attempting to bribe officers instead of following these procedures can lead to severe legal consequences, including imprisonment.

The suspect was handed over to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Kamembe Station for further investigation.

Article 4 of Law No. 54/2018 of August 13, 2018, on combating corruption stipulates that anyone convicted of soliciting, offering, or accepting a bribe faces a prison sentence of between five and seven years and a fine ranging from three to five times the value of the bribe involved.

The suspect was apprehended in Kamembe Sector, where the police had deployed a mobile vehicle inspection station to bring services closer to motorists in Rusizi and neighboring districts.