Two arrested over US  visa forgery
Oct 22, 2009
THE Police in Kampala have arrested two people over impersonating American embassy officials working in the visa section.
By Jeff Lule
THE Police in Kampala have arrested two people over impersonating American embassy officials working in the visa section.
Evelyn Bachu and Peter Lumu were arrested after a client, Wandera Mbabazi, accused them of defrauding her of sh6m and issuing her with forged documents on July 31, 2006.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said the duo are suspected of operating an office bearing the American flag on the fourth floor of Diamond Trust building
“Mbabazi was sick and was looking for a visa to go for treatment. She was linked to Bachu, who took her to their office and asked her to organise sh6m for a visa,†Nabakooba told journalists at the Kampala Central Police Station yesterday.
Mbabazi was later arrested at an airport in San Francisco in the US and deported to Uganda after security officers established that her documents were forged.
“After being deported, she reported to the Police and our investigations started. She helped us locate their office,†Nabakooba explained.
She said the two had an American flag and 12 stamps belonging to different organisations.
They also had leaflets that read, “Free Free Free, live, work, study in the USA. Crystal System International 14th floor Room 409 Diamond Trust Bankâ€. Nabakooba said Bachu would be charged with obtaining money by false pretence, adding that the suspects would jointly be charged with conspiring to defraud Mbabazi.
William Kototyo, the assistant commissioner of Police in charge of economic crime, said they had established that Bachu was a former staff member of the American embassy working in the visa section.
“She was dismissed in 2007 for defrauding clients, but we suspect she had already set up this office. She also employed Lumu to receive the applicants’ documents,†Kototyo said.
He cautioned the public against people who pose as embassy workers and claim to help the public to travel abroad.
THE Police in Kampala have arrested two people over impersonating American embassy officials working in the visa section.
Evelyn Bachu and Peter Lumu were arrested after a client, Wandera Mbabazi, accused them of defrauding her of sh6m and issuing her with forged documents on July 31, 2006.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said the duo are suspected of operating an office bearing the American flag on the fourth floor of Diamond Trust building
“Mbabazi was sick and was looking for a visa to go for treatment. She was linked to Bachu, who took her to their office and asked her to organise sh6m for a visa,†Nabakooba told journalists at the Kampala Central Police Station yesterday.
Mbabazi was later arrested at an airport in San Francisco in the US and deported to Uganda after security officers established that her documents were forged.
“After being deported, she reported to the Police and our investigations started. She helped us locate their office,†Nabakooba explained.
She said the two had an American flag and 12 stamps belonging to different organisations.
They also had leaflets that read, “Free Free Free, live, work, study in the USA. Crystal System International 14th floor Room 409 Diamond Trust Bankâ€. Nabakooba said Bachu would be charged with obtaining money by false pretence, adding that the suspects would jointly be charged with conspiring to defraud Mbabazi.
William Kototyo, the assistant commissioner of Police in charge of economic crime, said they had established that Bachu was a former staff member of the American embassy working in the visa section.
“She was dismissed in 2007 for defrauding clients, but we suspect she had already set up this office. She also employed Lumu to receive the applicants’ documents,†Kototyo said.
He cautioned the public against people who pose as embassy workers and claim to help the public to travel abroad.