Police officer jailed for stealing sh19m
Aug 24, 2010
A senior Police detective attached to the Criminal Investigation Department has been jailed for stealing sh19m from a city businessman.
By Edward Anyoli
A senior Police detective attached to the Criminal Investigation Department has been jailed for stealing sh19m from a city businessman.
Hope Atuhaire was recently sentenced to two years in jail by Buganda Road Grade One magistrate Francis Kobusheshe.
Atuhaire, who has been the officer in charge of crime at the Police headquarters in Kibuli, was found guilty of stealing $9,000 (sh19m).
Court heard that she stole the money from Valensi Kibyeyi, whom she suspected of dealing in counterfeit dollars.
Prosecution, led by the resident state attorney, Bikista Bakibinga, said when Atuhaire arrested Kibyeyi on February 7, 2008, she did not exhibit the notes recovered from him, but instead stole them.
Kobusheshe also found Atuhaire guilty of assaulting Kibyeyi after arresting him.
“The conduct of the accused in the handling of this case did not reflect an innocent woman.
The fact that her gang was not apprehended, is not evidence that she did not commit the offence as submitted by his counsel,†Kobusheshe said.
He, however, acquitted Atuhaire on charges of abuse of office.
Kibyeyi said he travelled from Kigali to Kampala on February 7, 2008, but on reaching Kampala, he was arrested by unknown people on Atuhaire’s instructions.
Apart from being assaulted, Kibyeyi said he lost a mobile phone, a wrist watch and $9,000 as he was being taken to Kampala Central Police Station.
Prosecutor Bakibinga asked court for a stiff sentence, saying Atuhaire was a senior Police officer, who acted irresponsibly.
A senior Police detective attached to the Criminal Investigation Department has been jailed for stealing sh19m from a city businessman.
Hope Atuhaire was recently sentenced to two years in jail by Buganda Road Grade One magistrate Francis Kobusheshe.
Atuhaire, who has been the officer in charge of crime at the Police headquarters in Kibuli, was found guilty of stealing $9,000 (sh19m).
Court heard that she stole the money from Valensi Kibyeyi, whom she suspected of dealing in counterfeit dollars.
Prosecution, led by the resident state attorney, Bikista Bakibinga, said when Atuhaire arrested Kibyeyi on February 7, 2008, she did not exhibit the notes recovered from him, but instead stole them.
Kobusheshe also found Atuhaire guilty of assaulting Kibyeyi after arresting him.
“The conduct of the accused in the handling of this case did not reflect an innocent woman.
The fact that her gang was not apprehended, is not evidence that she did not commit the offence as submitted by his counsel,†Kobusheshe said.
He, however, acquitted Atuhaire on charges of abuse of office.
Kibyeyi said he travelled from Kigali to Kampala on February 7, 2008, but on reaching Kampala, he was arrested by unknown people on Atuhaire’s instructions.
Apart from being assaulted, Kibyeyi said he lost a mobile phone, a wrist watch and $9,000 as he was being taken to Kampala Central Police Station.
Prosecutor Bakibinga asked court for a stiff sentence, saying Atuhaire was a senior Police officer, who acted irresponsibly.