Magistrate probed for convicting minister
Oct 01, 2006
THE Government is to investigate the circumstances under which the Masaka Grade One Magistrate convicted minister Alintuma Nsambu for issuing a bounced cheque.
By Milton Olupot
THE Government is to investigate the circumstances under which the Masaka Grade One Magistrate convicted minister Alintuma Nsambu for issuing a bounced cheque.
Nsambu, the state minister for information and communication technology, was on Thursday convicted by Magistrate Godfrey Kawesa over the bounced cheque for sh1.2m he issued to a Rakai-based women’s group. He was sentenced to one year in jail or a fine of sh3.2m, which he paid.
But ethics state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo yesterday said the matter had been discussed in government and it appeared the magistrate mishandled the case.
“The facts were not correct and were exaggerated. We have also talked to other people and found that the magistrate over-reacted.
“I know one or two things were unethical and we are investigating the magistrate. He did not take all the facts and it looks like there was some politics in it,†Buturo said. He said he advised Nsambu (right) not to appeal.
“I have advised him against taking any steps. He should not appeal. We shall handle the matter administratively,†Buturo added.
The prosecution said Nsambu, the MP for Bukoto East in Masaka district, borrowed sh1.6m from the Women Enterprise Association of Rakai in 2001, promising to pay them back but failed.
On July 15, 2002, Nsambu allegedly issued a Standard Chartered Bank cheque to the women which bounced. He promised to give the women cash, but all efforts to recover the money, even through the Speaker of Parliament, were fruitless before he was dragged to court in 2005.
Kawesa said the prosecution adduced beyond reasonable doubt that Nsambu was guilty. He rejected Nsambu’s defence that the association treasurer, Jane Nalubili, accessed the cheque without his consent. The magistrate said Nsambu should have reported the matter to the bank and the Police immediately.
He said Nsambu’s sentence should serve as a lesson for others who intend to issue bad cheques. He said he expected Nsambu to be exemplary in morals and responsibility.
Nsambu said he would appeal the conviction, denied wrongdoing and vowed not to resign over the matter.
“I am not a criminal to resign. I am one of the most innocent politicians this country has seen. There is no reason for me to resign because I am the best for Masaka. This case was politically motivated,†Nsambu said at Parliament on Friday.
He added, “I am feeling very stupid and very silly in this situation where I am because somebody has used my kindness to portray me as a bad person.â€
Ends
THE Government is to investigate the circumstances under which the Masaka Grade One Magistrate convicted minister Alintuma Nsambu for issuing a bounced cheque.
Nsambu, the state minister for information and communication technology, was on Thursday convicted by Magistrate Godfrey Kawesa over the bounced cheque for sh1.2m he issued to a Rakai-based women’s group. He was sentenced to one year in jail or a fine of sh3.2m, which he paid.
But ethics state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo yesterday said the matter had been discussed in government and it appeared the magistrate mishandled the case.
“The facts were not correct and were exaggerated. We have also talked to other people and found that the magistrate over-reacted.
“I know one or two things were unethical and we are investigating the magistrate. He did not take all the facts and it looks like there was some politics in it,†Buturo said. He said he advised Nsambu (right) not to appeal.
“I have advised him against taking any steps. He should not appeal. We shall handle the matter administratively,†Buturo added.
The prosecution said Nsambu, the MP for Bukoto East in Masaka district, borrowed sh1.6m from the Women Enterprise Association of Rakai in 2001, promising to pay them back but failed.
On July 15, 2002, Nsambu allegedly issued a Standard Chartered Bank cheque to the women which bounced. He promised to give the women cash, but all efforts to recover the money, even through the Speaker of Parliament, were fruitless before he was dragged to court in 2005.
Kawesa said the prosecution adduced beyond reasonable doubt that Nsambu was guilty. He rejected Nsambu’s defence that the association treasurer, Jane Nalubili, accessed the cheque without his consent. The magistrate said Nsambu should have reported the matter to the bank and the Police immediately.
He said Nsambu’s sentence should serve as a lesson for others who intend to issue bad cheques. He said he expected Nsambu to be exemplary in morals and responsibility.
Nsambu said he would appeal the conviction, denied wrongdoing and vowed not to resign over the matter.
“I am not a criminal to resign. I am one of the most innocent politicians this country has seen. There is no reason for me to resign because I am the best for Masaka. This case was politically motivated,†Nsambu said at Parliament on Friday.
He added, “I am feeling very stupid and very silly in this situation where I am because somebody has used my kindness to portray me as a bad person.â€
Ends