Turkish paedophile faces new charges

By Taddeo Bwambale, Ali Mambule and Simon Masaba

Emin Baro, who was convicted of sexually molesting underage girls, has been remanded to Masaka Central Prison pending the hearing of a new case of aggravated defilement on November 1.

Baro, 54, was arrested on March 12 in Bugumba village, Iganga district after he was found in possession of a compact disc with videos showing two girls sucking his genitals.

He was yesterday arraigned before Grade One magistrate, Hood Matovu in Masaka Court, on charges of aggravated defilement.

Earlier in May, Baro was first tried at Nakawa Court in Kampala, where he was charged under the Computer Misuse Act.

The Act stipulates that a person who produces child pornography for the purpose of distribution through a computer commits an offence and is liable to 15 years on conviction or a fine not exceeding sh7.2m.

Baro pleaded guilty to the offenses and Grade One magistrate Rosemary Ngabirano charged him a fine of sh6m, which he paid and was acquitted.

But a few days later, High Court Judge Justice Faith Mwondha ordered for a retrial, on grounds that the case was mishandled.

She also noted that the disks, photographs and videos of child pornography recovered were not produced as exhibits in court for court to satisfy itself that it was child pornography.

Baro was, subsequently, rearrested and sent on remand to Luzira Prison. Court later resolved that the case be transferred to a court in Iganga district, where he allegedly committed the offenses.

However, Baro was instead taken to Masaka district after investigations by the Police discovered a girl reportedly defiled by him.

Sources say Baro, who claimed to be a Turkish national, had eluded Police since 2002 when rumours of his wicked acts came to light.

Sources reveal that Baro fled to Kenya and Tanzania, but often sneaked to Iganga, until Police arrested him this year.