Musumba files case against Indian state

May 09, 2013

Former minister, Isaac Musumba, who is being held up in India over alleged extortion, has filed a case against an Indian state for violation of his rights and for restraining him from leaving the country, the New Vision has learnt.

By Joyce Namutebi            

Former minister, Isaac Musumba, who is being held up in India over alleged extortion, has filed a case against an Indian state for violation of his rights and for restraining him from leaving the country, the New Vision has learnt.


Musumba, Igara east MP, Michael Mawanda and businessman, Mathias Magoola were reportedly arrested in Mumbai two weeks ago over claims that they attempted to extort $20m (sh50b) from directors of Videocon India, an electronics company.

When contacted Wednesday Musumba neither denied nor confirmed the new development. He however stressed that "I am still working to ensure that the truth comes out. I am doing everything possible to ensure that the truth is known to the whole world because it is important to me and the people we are with for posterity," he said.

He reiterated that he would not leave India until he has evidence clearing his name. He declined to name the state he had filed the case against, saying he said that he is waiting for an opportunity to tell his story himself to dispel the lies written about him. "I am waiting for a grand opportunity where the air will be cleared," he said.

From Trident Hotel, then to Grand Hotel in Mumbai, Musumba and his colleagues are now in New Delhi, according to a Ugandan Cabinet source.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to sort out the matter continue. Last week Ministry of Foreign affairs Permanent Secretary, Ambassador James Mugume told the New Vision that they had appealed to the Indian Government to see whether they can be released since they have not been charged.

The Indian High Commissioner in Uganda was scheduled to meet the Minister of state for International Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem on Tuesday, but it is not clear whether the meeting materialised.

Last week President Museveni phoned Musumba and asked him about the situation. "The President called me twice asking whether we are okay," Musumba said without divulging the details.

Musumba maintains that the allegations made against them were false, explaining further why the trio cannot come back now.  "Some us can't afford to have a complaint against us anywhere in the world without being resolved and this is what we are asking." He said they want the complaint either withdrawn or quashed. "You can't go home without this being resolved on file," he stressed.

Speaking from Grand Hotel last week Musumba denied press reports that it was the Indian Police that had shifted them there.

"It is not correct that police relocated us. If you do not pay my bills, how do you dictate which Hotel I am going to?" he asked. "We change hotels wherever we want," he added.

  He maintained that the trio have never been arrested in India. "We have never gone to police."

Musumba claims that Videocon owes his client, Magoola $37m (about Sh96b) over a mining business transaction and that he (Musumba) had accompanied him to India to ask for the money. Musumba explained that the complaint against them was filed by Videocon's Fernandes Marden, who he said, wanted to avoid clearance of their claim.

Marden, he said, accused them of having gone to their office illegally, yet they had telephoned the chairman's office to arrange the meeting.
                

 

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