Trial of cable company employee in sh3.7b theft resumes

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The hearing of a case involving former Western Cable Company Ltd accountant, Juliet Namuli, who is accused of stealing sh3.7b, resumes today (Friday, October 25, 2024).

The prosecution is set to present more witnesses before the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga.

Namuli faces charges alongside two co-accused: Robert Kimbowa and Joanita Nakatudde. The charges involve theft, conspiracy and money laundering.

Prosecution’s case

It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 31, 2016, while Namuli was employed as an accountant at Western Cable Company Ltd, she stole sh1.7b, which he had access to by virtue of her employment.

In the second count, it is purported that between January 2014 and December 2016 at Western Cable Company Ltd at an industrial area in Kampala, she stole sh1.3b.

The prosecution alleges that Namuli and Kimbowa, in August 2015 and December 2016, at the Western Cable Company Ltd offices on Sixth Street Industrial Area and dfcu Bank in Kampala, stole yet another sh751m from the company.

Namuli and Kimbowa were also charged with the offence of money laundering contrary to sections 3 (c) 116 and 136(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

According to the prosecution, the duo and others still at large from December 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016, laundered sh1.7b yet they knew that it was stolen money.

It is further alleged that Namuli and Kimbowa, laundered another sh751m in DFCU bank through account number 01443553554618 in the name of Westerner Cables Uganda Ltd.

The prosecution said, they knew that at the time they received the money it was proceeds of crime, from a cheque that Namuli allegedly stole from Western Cable Company Limited.

A prosecution, led by Abigail Agaba of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), said Namuli and Kimbowa conspired to steal funds from Western Cable Company Ltd.

It is alleged that Nakatudde on May 30, 2018, at Letshego offices in Kampala, used land comprised in Busiro Block 459 Plot 547, land at Katale in Wakiso district as security and borrowed sh30m, yet she knew that at the time of acquiring the property, it was a proceed of crime.

The prosecution alleges, she later sold and transferred the property comprising Block 459 Plot 547 at Katale to Violet Tusiime. The accused denied the charges and they are out on bail.