Two held over fake gold
Sep 07, 2011
The Police in Mbarara have arrested two men over allegations that they planned to con students on their way back to school using fake gold on Monday.
BY A. SENGENDO
The Police in Mbarara have arrested two men over allegations that they planned to con students on their way back to school using fake gold on Monday.
Mbarara district Police commander Nicholas Ngonzi identified the two as Paul Ssemwogerere, 37, and Lauben Mugisha, 36. Ngozi stated that the suspects said they are residents of Masaka district, but are actually from Mbarara Municipality.
Ngonzi said the Police arrested the suspects near Stanbic Bank in Mbarara town where they had planned to con students who had gone to deposit and withdraw money for school fees.Â
Their arrest followed a tip off by Isaac Barigye, a first year student of Bishop Stuart University, to whom the duo had attempted to sell a fake piece of gold at sh500,000.
Ngonzi said the fake gold was labelled “Banklaif Gold Co. Ltd, gold from Kinshasa, grade (A) No.1 valued at $30,000 (about sh87m).
Barigye, on discovering that the gold was fake, reported to Mbarara Police Station and was given plain clothes Police officers who found the conmen still near Stanbic Bank.
Ssemwogerere and Mugisha said they made the gold themselves from florescent lamps picked from rubbish heaps and had been in the trade for a while.
The Police in Mbarara have arrested two men over allegations that they planned to con students on their way back to school using fake gold on Monday.
Mbarara district Police commander Nicholas Ngonzi identified the two as Paul Ssemwogerere, 37, and Lauben Mugisha, 36. Ngozi stated that the suspects said they are residents of Masaka district, but are actually from Mbarara Municipality.
Ngonzi said the Police arrested the suspects near Stanbic Bank in Mbarara town where they had planned to con students who had gone to deposit and withdraw money for school fees.Â
Their arrest followed a tip off by Isaac Barigye, a first year student of Bishop Stuart University, to whom the duo had attempted to sell a fake piece of gold at sh500,000.
Ngonzi said the fake gold was labelled “Banklaif Gold Co. Ltd, gold from Kinshasa, grade (A) No.1 valued at $30,000 (about sh87m).
Barigye, on discovering that the gold was fake, reported to Mbarara Police Station and was given plain clothes Police officers who found the conmen still near Stanbic Bank.
Ssemwogerere and Mugisha said they made the gold themselves from florescent lamps picked from rubbish heaps and had been in the trade for a while.