Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on Tuesday, March 25, paraded three people who were arrested on suspicion of fraudulent activities, that involved deceiving people with false promises of employment. They are accused of taking their money, and failing to provide the jobs they had promised. The suspects identified as Eric Mungaruriye, Jean Norbert Beneyo, and Aliane Iradukunda were detained by RIB on March 20, according to Thierry Murangira, the RIB spokesperson. ALSO READ: RIB explains how fraudsters impersonate investigators “They were arrested for defrauding people of approximately Rwf70 million,” he said. They are currently detained at Nyarugenge RIB Station, and their case is being processed for referral to the Prosecution. Murangira said that Mungaruriye is suspected of using national identity cards of his co-accused to register companies in their names and subsequently defrauding people by claiming he could secure them jobs. He founded various companies such as Kora Nawe, registered under the name of Aliane Iradukunda, Abanyamwuga, registered under Jean Norbert Beneyo, New Jobs, under James Kalim, and Gorama Services, under Diane Nyirantagorama. Murangira explained that investigations revealed these companies did not pay taxes despite receiving money from job seekers. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: RIB parades 45 mobile money fraud suspects “As his counterparts accuse him, Mungaruriye registered the companies using their identification cards and set up offices in Nyabugogo, within the MIC building in Nyarugenge District, later expanding to Remera and Kimironko. People went to those offices hoping to find jobs.” he said. According to Murangira, Mungaruriye recruited employees who were tasked with finding customers, charging them a service fee of Rwf10,000. “His strategy was to collect small amounts from many people. Those who fell into the trap believed that if the job was available, they would get it, and if not, it was their loss. Since Rwf10,000 seemed like a small amount, they easily parted with it.” Murangira cautioned the public against such schemes. “You should not waste your money, even if it is just Rwf1,000, because that only encourages fraudsters to continue deceiving people.” He explained that the three suspects are facing charges of fraud and money laundering. The money they obtained fraudulently was invested in various activities, such as shops, making it seem as if it came from legitimate sources. ALSO READ: Busted: RIB parades suspected serial sex trafficker He added that Beneyo and Iradukunda are suspected of complicity, while Mungaruriye is additionally suspected of sexual exploitation. “We are searching for other people suspected to be their accomplices, who have been deceiving people by claiming they secured jobs through these suspects,” he added. A person convicted of fraud is liable to imprisonment of two to three years, and a fine ranging between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million. A person convicted of money laundering is liable to imprisonment of 10 to 15 years, and a fine three to five times the value of the amount in question. Any person who solicits, accepts, or promises a favor of a sexual nature, or subjects another person to such a favor, in exchange for rendering or omitting a service, is liable to imprisonment of five to seven years, and a fine ranging from Rwf1 million to Rwf2 million.
