Stop interfering with witnesses - judge

KAMPALA - The head of the Anti-Corruption Court has warned a former Dfcu banking officer accused of stealing sh709m against interfering with witnesses.

Justice Lawrence Gidudu warned Grace Kakooza, saying he will not hesitate to cancel his bail should he continue to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

Kakooza is charged with embezzlement and causing financial loss to the bank.

State attorney Tom Walugembe on Thursday told court that Kakooza has been interfering with prosecution witnesses and subsequently asked court to cancel his bail.

"The accused interfered with our witness Sheila Namanda. This is a serious matter as we fear that he might interfere with other witnesses as well. I prayed that his bail be cancelled," said Walugembe.

Namanda, who testified as prosecution witness number three, said Kakooza called her and told her not to go to court to testify.

Justice Gidudu said: "I am giving the accused the last chance; if he interferes with the witnesses again I shall not hesitate to cancel his bail.

"Run away if you see any of the witnesses as if you have seen a patient of Ebola," he warned.

According to prosecution, a total of sh709, 530,413 was lost from Dfcu bank in a fraudulent transaction that was allegedly initiated by Kakooza.

He allegedly committed the offences between October 2012 and September 2013. He has denied the charges.

Prosecution led by state attorneys Walugembe and Innocent Aleto said while Kakooza was employed as a banking officer at Dfcu bank, he came up with a scheme to defraud the bank when he allegedly recruited accomplices whose accounts he used to defraud the bank.

Prosecution also accused Kakooza of transferring some of the money to his personal account in Centenary Bank and also transfer funds illegally to his accomplices'bank accounts.