Prison doctor arrested for selling inmates’ meds
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Prisoners undergo a vaccination exercise at Nyarugenge Prison. RIB has arrested a medic at Nyarugenge prison for offences including alleged sale of medicine meant to treat inmates. CRAISH BAHIZI

Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested Anastase Habiyakare, a medic at Nyarugenge district correctional facility for offences including alleged sale of medicine meant to treat inmates.

RIB’s Spokesperson Thierry Murangira told The New Times that the arrest took place on Sunday, August 13, and that the suspect is being held at Nyamirambo RIB station as his file is being prepared to be handed to the prosecutors.

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Murangira noted that Habiyakare is being investigated on offences including: exposing employment secrets, soliciting and receiving bribes, and embezzlement of resources.

He explained that the accused wrote requests for medicine meant to treat inmates, but when it was provided, he would go and sell it to private pharmacy owners.

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Without much explanation, Murangira said that the medic also, at different occasions, illegally handled medical referrals issued for inmates, in addition to using his phone in a way that is against the regulations of the correctional facility.

The law on fighting corruption punishes the crime of bribery with an imprisonment term that ranges between five to seven years, and a fine worth three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited received.