Six people were arrested on Tuesday, September 14, at La Corniche One Stop Border Post with the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC) in Gisenyi, Rubavu District after they were found in possession of forged Covid-19 negative certificates.
They are identified as Meshak Itangishaka, 29, Isaac Imanizabayo, 30, Jean Pierre Kamanzi, 35, Ildephonse Zigiranyirazo, 40, Daniel Niyonkuru, 31, and Jean De Dieu Niyonkuru, 27.
“They were at the time attempting to cross to Goma in DRC but the Police border security officers were able to discover that their Covid-19 negative certificates were forged and they took them into custody,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.
Covid-19 negative certificate is among the required documents to cross from one country to another.
Meshak Itangishaka is said to have used his genuine certificate to forge other five certificates for his colleagues.
All the suspects were handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further legal process.
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 Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million or only one of these penalties.(End)