Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested six people who forged 108 documents including asylum seekers’ documents.
Six of the suspects are accused of forgery, falsification and use of forged documents.
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RIB spokesperson, Thierry Murangira, told The New Times that the suspects forged documents including summons in the name of Rwanda Investigation Bureau which people use to seek asylum in foreign countries such as France.
"They forged a summoning document to help someone seek asylum in France alleging that Rwanda is persecuting them,” he said.
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Those arrested include 35-year old Benjamin Harerimana and 54-year old Fifirifiri Ismael who has DR Congo nationality, Eliane Uwase, 28, and Thierry Mugabe, 29.
Thierry Mugabe is an associate of Patrick Mutabazi, also wanted for forgery but lives in France.
There is also Serge Muhire, 29, and Agnes Uwimanihaye, 24, who is the wife of Patrick Mutabazi.
The forged summoning document was sent to Mutabazi in France so that he could use it to get asylum in this country.
Mutabazi went to France at the beginning of 2023 to attend a wedding ceremony of a family member and never came back to Rwanda.
"He is falsifying reasons to stay in France. Some of the documents were confiscated at Kigali International Airport while others were caught in Benjamin’s home in Rubavu District where the forgery ring was operating in Gisenyi sector, Bugoyi cell, Ituze village,” Murangira said, adding that the suspects are detained at Nyarugenge and Gisenyi RIB stations and their files were sent to prosecution.
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The other forged documents include 18 drivers’ licenses issued from Rwanda, 47 drivers’ licenses from DRC, three from Burundi and two from Uganda.
The suspects were also caught red-handed with nine electoral cards from DR Congo, two identity cards from Rwanda, five forged university degrees from Rwanda and one from DR Congo.
The documents also include 12 forged transcripts from different Universities and high schools and one recommendation letter from an employer.
"RIB again detected forged letters confirming that people are studying or, studied at a certain school, degrees issued by two schools and five service cards,” he said.
The suspects, if convicted, risk an imprisonment of between five years and seven years in jail and a fine of between Rwf 3 million and Rwf 5 million.
Over the past five years from 2019 to 2023, RIB said, it has dealt with 15 cases of forgery by people seeking asylum abroad claiming that they are being persecuted.
"RIB reminds Rwandans that forgery, falsification and use of forged documents is punishable by the law. Forging a document showing that your country is persecuting you is a serious crime distorting the country's image,” Murangira added.