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ARUA - The grade one magistrate court in Arua city has remanded Ayivu division's Oduluba ward principal town agent and his brother over the alleged misappropriation of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.

Principal town agent Dan Anzeti allegedly diverted PDM funds amounting to shillings two million meant for Hellen Draru and Teddy Ajidiru to Albert Aniku from Sudan cell and Jackson Madira, his brother from Aroi parish in Manibe ward.

The diversion that allegedly happened in November last year was in January reported to Police causing the arrest of Anzeti after he failed to refund the money to the right beneficiaries as agreed in a meeting.

While appearing before grade one magistrate Maureen Nakayenenze on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, afternoon, the duo (Dan Anzeti and Jackson Madira) were charged with two counts of theft of shillings 2.1 million government of Uganda money and conspiracy to commit a felony. The third suspect, Albert Aniku, is still at large.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and consequently the judge adjourned their bail application hearing for Thursday, March 21, 2024.

LC2 chairperson Ben Agotre and the Chairperson Parish Development Committee (PDC) who is a prosecution witness, said taking the law was the last option as all efforts to have the matter resolved within the ward proved futile due to non-compliance by the town agent.

Ronald Mundua, the area councilor for Oduluba ward to the division council, accused some technocrats and politicians in the division for conniving with the suspects after the misappropriated money was allegedly paid back to the group account without the notice of the BOG and PDC members.

Arua City Operation Wealth Creation co-ordinator  Col. Lot Dradria Osutre rebuked the town agent for absconding from duty station after the incident and threatening the committee members prompting his intervention as he warned of high handedness in case of any misappropriation of PDM funds.