Three cops suspended over bribes
Dec 20, 2010
THREE Police officers in Arua district have been suspended by the professional standards unit (PSU) for allegedly soliciting bribes.
By RICHARD DRASIMAKU
THREE Police officers in Arua district have been suspended by the professional standards unit (PSU) for allegedly soliciting bribes.
The Arua regional PSU commandant, Alfred Matua, identified the suspects as Samuel Anwangocan, the deputy officer in charge of mobile Police, Robert Othocono of the criminal investigations department and Twaha Kabagambe of Odiyanyadri Police Post.
Matua said on November 23, Anwangocan demanded a sh300,000 bribe to release bales of white polythene bags smuggled from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“He did not have any record showing that he handed over the goods to the Uganda Revenue Authority officers,†Matua said.
Anwangocan, he said, was charged with corruption and suspended, pending trial by the Police disciplinary committee.
Matua said Athocono and Kabagambe allegedly solicited bribes to give Police bonds to suspects.
“Police bonds are free, but some officers take advantage of the ignorance of the public to extort money from them.
Unlike Athocon and Anwangocan, Kabagambe will be tried by the Anti-corruption Court.
He is suspected to have asked for sh230,000 from Richard Ayikobua, an assault suspect.
However, Ayikobua reported the matter to the standards unit. Consequently, Matua said, they had photocopied the currency notes which were given to Kabagambe and he was arrested.
“If members of the public could act like Ayikobua, many corrupt officers would be arrested,†Matua said.
THREE Police officers in Arua district have been suspended by the professional standards unit (PSU) for allegedly soliciting bribes.
The Arua regional PSU commandant, Alfred Matua, identified the suspects as Samuel Anwangocan, the deputy officer in charge of mobile Police, Robert Othocono of the criminal investigations department and Twaha Kabagambe of Odiyanyadri Police Post.
Matua said on November 23, Anwangocan demanded a sh300,000 bribe to release bales of white polythene bags smuggled from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“He did not have any record showing that he handed over the goods to the Uganda Revenue Authority officers,†Matua said.
Anwangocan, he said, was charged with corruption and suspended, pending trial by the Police disciplinary committee.
Matua said Athocono and Kabagambe allegedly solicited bribes to give Police bonds to suspects.
“Police bonds are free, but some officers take advantage of the ignorance of the public to extort money from them.
Unlike Athocon and Anwangocan, Kabagambe will be tried by the Anti-corruption Court.
He is suspected to have asked for sh230,000 from Richard Ayikobua, an assault suspect.
However, Ayikobua reported the matter to the standards unit. Consequently, Matua said, they had photocopied the currency notes which were given to Kabagambe and he was arrested.
“If members of the public could act like Ayikobua, many corrupt officers would be arrested,†Matua said.