Three men suspected of impersonating police officers and defrauding people have been arrested in Nyarugenge and Rubavu districts.

One of the suspects – Eric Maniriho, 40 – was caught red-handed on January 28 in Bushengo Village of Gikombe Cell in Bugeshi Sector.

Police spokesperson for Western Region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Eulade Gakwaya said Maniriho had already conned different people before he was apprehended.

"In one of the incidents, Maniriho, who was guising as a Police station commander, conned one of the victims of Rwf54, 000 promising to release a relative in police custody,” CIP Gakwaya said.

Impersonation under article 609 of the Rwandan penal code, is punishable with a term of imprisonment of between five and seven years and a fine of up to Rwf3 million.

Gakwaya also faulted the victims for procuring illegal services saying that such acts are criminal.

Article 641 of the penal code provides a jail term of between five and seven years and a fine of two to ten times the value of the illegal benefit offered or promised.

Meanwhile, in Nyarugenge, Jean d’Amour Mbonigaba and Idrissa Habimana were arrested in Rwezamenyo Sector where they pretended to be Police officers in an attempt to set free a suspected thief apprehended by residents after snatching a phone.

"Suspecting deceit, residents demanded identification from the duo which they could not produce until genuine police officers arrived. It was later established that they were accomplices in the theft,” Senior Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said.