Don' Nasser remanded after two weeks in police custody

FRAUD

After two weeks in police custody, city socialite Nasser Nduhukire aka Don Nasser was on Monday arraigned before Her worship Mary Babirye the Entebbe chief magistrate.

'Don' Nduhukire was charged with a case of obtaining money by false pretence before being remanded to Kigo prison until December 17 when he will return for his bail application hearing.

Nasser Nduhukire's lawyer Wycliff Tumwesige had filed a 'non condition' bail application for his client but the chief magistrate declined to hear the application, setting December 17, for the matter. The suspect rather took a plea of "not guilty," before being remanded.

Nasser Nduhukire faces charges of obtaining money by false pretence, allegedly having conned Johnny Hill a 56-year old American national of US$700,000 (over Sh 2bn) in a gold scam. Johnny Hill who was found camped at Entebbe police station on Wednesday last week, did not explain how he was conned by Nduhukire, only saying he had all the proof of payment to the socialite.

'Don Nasser' also faces a similar charge of conning a Russian lady US$5m, having failed to deliver  95kg of gold even after he was paid.

Two of his vehicles (Toyota Cross country UBE 602H and a Rolls Royce Wraith) were impounded by police, Vincent Sekate the CID Spokesman said, properties help in investigations.

"We need to find out whether these cars were bought before or after the money scandal," said Sekate, adding that in case Nduhukire is found guilty of the charges, some of the impounded property may be put up for auctioning to recover the money.

The CID spokesperson however, blamed police officers of the mineral protection unit, for having kept the suspect beyond the mandatory 48 hours.

In a related development, inside sources at Entebbe police intimated that former Kampala mayor Hajji Nasser Ssebaggala is trailing Nasser Nduhukire for allegedly using the former's name in the dubious dealings.

"Ssebaggala has been here several times, engaging the Commandant of minerals police on this matter, but i can't state how far it has reached," disclosed a source within police circles.

Vincent Sekate could not refute nor confirm the allegation, asking for more time to consult the Commandant of the minerals protection unit.