Former Swedish embassy accountant denied bail

Former Swedish Embassy accountant accused of embezzling sh8b from the Embassy, has been denied bail.

Justice Lawrence Gidudu of the Anti- Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala declined to release Valentino Kamya on bail saying he will interfere with the case.

While delivering the ruling on Thursday, Gidudu said he was convinced by prosecution submission that if granted bail Kamya will continue to interfere with the case.

Principal state attorney  Josephine  Namatovu and state attorney Fiona  Kwezi  told court that Kamya while on bail earlier transferred properties which court had restrained him from transferring.

Kamya is jointly charged with his in laws Wilson Bagonza and Evas Bagonza. His in- laws were granted bail of sh20m each.

Kamya was charged with embezzlement, forgery, uttering false document and money laundering.  Kamya's wife Lydia  Kusiima was charged with money laundering. The in laws were also charged with money laundering.

Bagonza is accused  of assisting Kamya to benefit from   proceed of crime by  selling  off a property comprised  in Kyadondo  Block 244 plot 7903 at  Kisugu to Glen Investments Ltd .

In another account Bagonza and his wife were charged with aiding  Kamya and Kusiima to benefit from a proceed of crime when they  allegedly sold a property comprised in Kyadondo  Block 218 plot 844 to Pauline Nantongo and transferred Block 218 plot1500 to  Yusuf Semugabi.

Prosecution accused Kamya of embezzling sh8b while he was employed by the Embassy.

Prosecution said that Kamya embezzled the money between January 2007 and August 2015 while employed at the Swedish Embassy in Uganda as an accountant.

On count of forgery, prosecution alleged that Kamya in May 2013 in Kampala, at Swedish Embassy forged a letter dated May13, 2015 to Stanbic bank officials requesting for funds transfer of $ 1,020,000. He claimed the letter had been signed by Anne Linderberg to request for funds.

Prosecution said in September, 2015 at Bank Africa Uganda ltd, Kamya laundered sh300m and concealed its origin and owner.

He is accused of transferring the money from account 08252980005 which he allegedly operated jointly with his wife Kusiima to another account 08250020003 operated by Kusiima in bank of Africa yet he knew the money was proceed of crime.

It is alleged by the prosecution that Kusiima   disguised the owner of sh300m that was deposited on her personal account in bank of Africa by her husband yet she knew it was proceed of crime.