The director of public prosecutions (DPP) Mike Chibita has withdrawn charges of embezzlement against the assistant commissioner of police, Siraje Bakaleke and seven others from the Anti-Corruption court in Kampala.
Chibita withdrew the charges of embezzlement, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to defraud, kidnapping with intention to confine and conspiracy to commit a felony against Bakaleke who was declared a deserter by police in 2018.
Bakaleke went into hiding because of the charges in 2018 and last month, police declared him 'wanted.' It is unclear whether or not he will now show up following the withdrawal of the charges.
The same charges were also withdrawn against city lawyer, Paul Wanyoto Mugoya, Samuel Nabeta Mulowooza, the managing director Eye Power engineering company and police officers; Robert Munezero, Innocent Nuwagaba, Robert Ray Asiimwe, Junior Amanya, Babu Gastavas and Kenneth Zirintuusa.
State prosecutor Harriet Ongom presented the DPP’s letter before the Anti-Corruption court Grade One magistrate, Moses Nabende withdrawing the charges.
State prosecutor Harriet Ongom presented the DPP’s letter before the Anti-Corruption court Grade One magistrate, Moses Nabende withdrawing the charges.
The letter however doesn’t indicate why the DPP has lost interest in the matter. After receiving the letter, Nabende dropped the charges and advised the suspects through their lawyer Cyrus Mugabi to obtain the deposits they paid during their bail application last year.
The suspects led by Wanyoto left court excited, saying the matter had occupied most of their time. Details of the case are that between February 4th and 11th, 2018 in Kampala, the suspects wrongly arrested and defrauded Park Seunghoon and Jang Shingu, both South Korean nationals and defrauded them of Shs 1.4billion. The South Koreans had traveled to Uganda looking for gold to buy.
All suspects with the exception of Bakaleke and Wanyoto pleaded not guilty to the charges. While Wanyoto appeared before court he didn’t plead to the charges, Bakaleke went into hiding and is still at large. The two had previously petitioned High court seeking to block their trial on grounds that the DPP instituted charges against them in bad faith before finalizing with investigations.
However, High court Justice Lydia Mugambe and Musa Ssekaana ordered the suspects to face trial in different judgment, saying they didn’t have powers to interfere with the work of the DPP.
All suspects with the exception of Bakaleke and Wanyoto pleaded not guilty to the charges. While Wanyoto appeared before court he didn’t plead to the charges, Bakaleke went into hiding and is still at large. The two had previously petitioned High court seeking to block their trial on grounds that the DPP instituted charges against them in bad faith before finalizing with investigations.
However, High court Justice Lydia Mugambe and Musa Ssekaana ordered the suspects to face trial in different judgment, saying they didn’t have powers to interfere with the work of the DPP.