Police officers arrested over defrauding city tycoon

CRIME   CORRUPTION

KAMPALA - Police at Kabalagala, in Kampala, are holding two senior police officers for attempting to extort $60,000 (about sh223m) from a city businessman.

Those arrested include Simon Peter Nkonge (Assistant Superintendent of Police) and Allan Ssendegeya both formerly attached to the defunct Police Flying Squad Unit.

The two, together with another civilian identified as  Martin Kimbowa were caught ready handed allegedly receiving money from a city businessman Vincent Luyinda, at Kyengera where they had agreed to meet.

Luyinda is the owner Kooki Tower located opposite Kampala Central Police Station (CPS), and other property in the city centre.

Addressing journalists at the CPS, the Kampala metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the three have on several occasions been involved in making threatening calls to the business man, alleging that he had sacrificed a person during the construction of one of his building.

The three are said to have demanded the said amount of money to conceal the secret.

Following the threats, Luyinda approached his friends including; Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja who advised him to report the matter to police.

He later opened up a case at Kabalagala police station under the file name: Sd756/09/03/20.

On Tuesday, the police officers contacted the businessman and agreed to meet at Kyengera, in Wakiso district, where they were supposed to receive the said amount.

Little, did the three know that their plan had gone sour.

On reaching the rendezvous, the police in coordination with other security agencies, arrested the three, as they were allegedly receiving the cash.

Onyango said they are under police custody on charges of threating violence and fraud pending further investigation.

Additional reporting by Mathias Rukundo