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ARUA

The Chief Magistrates Court in Arua has remanded Joackin Andiandu the Environment Officer Arua district and Owen Onzima, a community facilitator under Displacement Response for Development Impact Project (DRDIP) have both been remanded to Arua government prison.

The suspects were produced before Chief Magistrates Court on Friday evening presided over by Justice Paul Matyama, the Chief Magistrate Arua High Court circuit.

They were remanded for a short period to Arua government prison till Wednesday January 24, 2024 when they will appear in court.

The magistrate took a decision to remand the suspects after the two denied stealing the said sh20m and pleaded not guilty.

The state prosecutor asked the court to adjourn the case to grant more time for investigations and consult on possible need to amend the charge sheet for the Anti-Corruption Court to try the case.

The magistrate denied the demand from Andinadu’s lawyer seeking for bail, but preferred to remand him for a shorter time to allow the state prosecutor to conclude their request on the charge sheet.

Andiandu and Onzima were accordingly remanded to Arua government prison and will appear in court on Wednesday January 24, 2024 for mention.

Justice Paul Matyama said the bail hearing will have heard after a decision is taken.

Andiandu and Onzima were summoned by police in Ajia and arrested and detained on Monday after the community of Ombamba village reported a case of theft of sh20m under DRDIP.

Ombamba group members on December 27, 2023, withdrew sh41m and sh20m was allegedly extorted by the Onzima and handed over to Andiandu according to the group chairperson Augustino Yekoko who spoke to our Reporter on Thursday in a telephone interview.

He said the money was withdrawn by the group signatories on December 27, 2023, at Post Bank, Arua Branch.

“We accessed sh41,020,000. Owen Onzima, the community facilitator connected us with the district.