Man arrested in Rubavu for forging Covid-19 vaccination certificate

Rwanda National Police (RNP) arrested one Samuel Havugimana, 30, in Rubavu District for allegedly forging the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) Covid-19 vaccination certificate.

Havugimana was paraded to the media on Sunday, December 26, at Gisenyi Police station in Gisenyi Sector, Rubavu District

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Havugimana was arrested at Bugeshi health centre attempting to use the forged certificate to have him registered as fully vaccinated.

“Havugimana is not vaccinated, so on Friday, he went to Bugeshi health centre with a forged vaccination certificate and tried to influence medical workers there to have his names entered into the RBC system. The medical workers called the Police and Havugimana was taken into custody,” said CIP Karekezi.

Upon his arrest, Havugimana said that he got the falsfied certificate in September from someone in Musanze District, whom he did not disclose, for Frw1, 000.

He added that he used the same fake certificate to attend a wedding reception for his relatives back in September in Nyarubande Sector, Musanze District.

The suspects was handed over to RIB at Gisenyi police station for further legal process.

Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that 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. 

Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.

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 Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million or only one of these penalties.(End)