Two arrested in Nyarugenge over circulation of counterfeit money

Two people have been arrested in Nyarugenge District in connection with possession and circulation of counterfeit money.

The duo, a man and woman, was apprehended in Inyarurembo village, Kiyovu cell of  Nyarugenge sector, with counterfeit dollars amounting to US$2800, approximately Frw3,296,000.

They were at the time attempting to fleece a forex bureau in Kiyovu, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali.

“They were arrested at about 1p.m, at a forex bureau, where a teller noticed that all their 51 dollars notes, including 46 notes in the denominations of $50 and 3 in the denominations of $100, were fake.

Police was called in and the duo was apprehended at the scene,” SP Twajamahoro said.

The arrested woman claimed that the counterfeit money belonged to her husband. The couple hail from Nyanza District, Busasamana sector.

The second suspect, a man, was allegedly helping her to exchange the counterfeit banknotes.

Article 269 of law No. 68/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years. (End)