Man, 28 year old arrested defrauding refugees

Police in Bugesera District have arrested a 28-year old man for allegedly impersonating government officials and conning refugees promising to take them abroad.

Yves Karambizi was arrested on June 20 following formal complaints filed at Nyamata Police station by victims, who alleged masquerading as an official from the Ministry of Local Government and giving them forged travel documents under pretence that he was to take them abroad under a similar refugee programme.

According to the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, Karambizi was arrested at a hotel in Bugesera where he had just received more money from another victim.

“He could deceive refugees that he works at the Ministry of Local Government and that he could get them travel document at a certain fee. He was giving them forged travel documents with forged signatures,” IP Kayigi said.

By the time of his arrest, Karambizi had conned three people of Rwf490, 000, IP Kayigi added.

“Karambizi was lying to his victims that he would get them visas and air tickets to Sweden. Investigations have so far established that he has even never been an employee in the Ministry of Local Government, but we are still investigating to find out if there are other people victims,” he said.

IP Kayigi noted that impersonation, like any other crime, is an ill-advised attempt and a serious crime as stipulated under article 609 of the penal code.

It states that any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine ranging from Rwf300,000 to Rwf3 million.