By Eddie Ssejjoba
EMBATTLED city tycoon, Hassan Basajjabalaba has been arrested at Entebbe International Airport when he allegedly attempted to sneak out of the country after learning that the police were hunting for him.
The director Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Grace Akullo said that Basajjabalaba presented forged court bail papers before the already alerted security at the airport, purporting that he had appeared in court and bailed.
“That is another case of forgery, where he did he get the court papers and when did he appear in court,” Akullo asked.
She explained that security personnel at the airport called her to inquire whether it was true the tycoon was on either police bond or court bail.
“I told them I was not aware of that and asked them to just arrest him and take him to the SIU (Special investigations Unit) in Kireka,” Akullo explained. Basajjabalaba was picked from the departure lounge and driven to Kampala in a private car.
Akullo directed that he be locked up at Kireka.
She said police had already served Basajjabalaba with summons and was wanted at the CIID in Kibuli to make a statement in regard to a case of forgery and uttering a false document but according to Akullo, the businessman disregarded the summons.
Police summoned Basajjabalaba for allegedly forging a court document in the sh142b market compensation scandal, involving the various contracts he entered into in 2002 with the defunct Kampala City Council to manage, control and maintain three city markets – Nakasero, St. Balikuddembe, and Shauriyako plus the Constitutional Square.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Richard Butera endorsed charges of forgery against Basajjabalaba.
