Desh Kananura cleared of fraud charges

Jan 22, 2015

Flamboyant city businessman Andrew Kananura alias Desh has been cleared of charges of obtaining money worth sh340m by false pretense. It was earlier alleged that Kananura entered an agreement to sell and supply Sulait Semakula of Sema Properties Ltd a grader 140OG-Caterpillar at sh340m last year.

By Michael Odeng   
                   
Flamboyant city businessman Andrew Kananura alias Desh has been cleared of charges of obtaining money worth sh340m by false pretense.

  Prosecution had alleged that Kananura entered an agreement to sell and supply Sulait Semakula of Sema Properties Ltd a grader 140OG-Caterpillar at sh340m last year.

Presiding over the case, Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate, Simon Kintu Zirintuusa on Wednesday cleared Kananura on grounds that he had no intention to defraud and obtain the money.

“I know that money is capable of being stolen but I highly doubt whether Kananura received it,” Kintu said.

He added that taking money is what constituted the offence but not taking it through false pretense with an intention to defraud.

The trial magistrate also dismissed the case on grounds that the charge sheet was defective because it did not have particulars (facts) pertaining fraud charges.


Desh Kananura (L) arriving at Nakawa Court on November 6, 2014. PHOTO/File

Kintu also said that the testimony of the complainant (Semakula) was riddled with contradictions and inconsistencies. He advised the complainant to seek for compensation from High Court, Civil division. 

Kintu stated that a bank statement receipt of sh200m and 30m that was deposited at Kananura’s Stanbic bank account was not tendered in court as an exhibit and therefore it was not used as evidence while making judgment. 

Prosecution told court that Kananura between November 16 and December 25 last year, entered a deal with intent to defraud and obtain money by false pretense because the said machine [grader] was never supplied yet the money was issued to Desh.

Prosecution further states that Desh deliberately refused to deliver the machine and instead went into hiding after forging the signature of Ssemakula on the delivery note, stating that Ssemakula had received the said tractor.

The trial of Kananura who is accused of murdering his employee Badru Kateregga two years ago is slated to start this month at the High Court in Nakawa.

Kananura faces charges of murder. Justice Wilson Musene Masalau will conduct the trial; Principal State Attorney Jane Okuo Kajuga will prosecute the case while defence team led by Geoffrey Kandeebe will stand for the suspect.

Related

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Desh Kananura committed to the High Court

Kananura out on bail

State witness clears Kananura in fraud case
 

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