RUSIZI- Police in Rusizi is holding two men for allegedly duping people into giving them money in exchange for precious minerals.

According to police, the suspects Pracide Masabo, 26 and Anthony Munyentwari, 32, hoodwinked Justine Bizimana into believing that they would get him minerals worth US$1,000 from the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, Bizimana never received the minerals after payment.

"I travelled to Rusizi to receive the product but Masabo told me over the phone that he had been arrested by authorities in D.R. Congo. He said Congolese authorities needed US$500 to release him. At the moment I only had US$200 which I sent to Masabo, through another man he sent,” explained Bizimana.

The two men are said to have swindled several other victims and were on the police’s wanted list.

According to police, it was the second time the pair had been detained. They said that the offenders defraud people into believing that they have precious products like gold and silver.

Masabo convinces his victims that he works with a mining company in Katanga while Munyentwari poses as a Congolese soldier, Police said.

"Most of these con men use replica precious stones as the way to rob people. They know people want to get rich,” Rusizi District Police Commander, Superintendent Innocent Semigabo said.

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