URA officials held over sh283m loss
May 20, 2010
TWO interdicted Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials, on trial for causing a sh283m financial loss, have been implicated in obtaining the money by false pretence.
By Edward Anyoli
TWO interdicted Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials, on trial for causing a sh283m financial loss, have been implicated in obtaining the money by false pretence.
A Police detective, Sam Etom, told the Anti-Corruption Court chief magistrate, Irene Akankwasa, that Zaake Walakira, a businessman, confessed during interrogation that he connived with Juliet Kyesimira, a former Stanbic Bank official, Julius Rugumayo and Patrick Sabiiti to defraud the company.
“Melakani kept updating us on how far he had gone. After one week, he gave Sabiiti, Rugumayo, and I sh18m each, thanking us for the work,†Walakira said in a Police statement signed in February 2005.
The statement was admitted in court as evidence against the accused. Melakani, according to prosecution, approached Walakira over the deal.
Walakira, however, denied having connived to steal the money.
Ivan Jitta, who represented Walakira, objected to the evidence, saying the confession was made under duress.
The court, however, heard that Walakira made the statement implicating him and the other co-accused voluntarily.
Etom told the court that the statement was made in a conducive environment without intimidation from the Police.
They allegedly withdrew the money from the tax body’s account in Stanbic Bank, Corporate Branch, claiming they sold computers to URA through a company called Asterisk.
The accused are also being tried for abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud the company.
Prosecution, led by principal state attorney Fred Waninda, said the accused committed the offences in May 2005.
If convicted, the suspects face 14 years imprisonment.
TWO interdicted Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials, on trial for causing a sh283m financial loss, have been implicated in obtaining the money by false pretence.
A Police detective, Sam Etom, told the Anti-Corruption Court chief magistrate, Irene Akankwasa, that Zaake Walakira, a businessman, confessed during interrogation that he connived with Juliet Kyesimira, a former Stanbic Bank official, Julius Rugumayo and Patrick Sabiiti to defraud the company.
“Melakani kept updating us on how far he had gone. After one week, he gave Sabiiti, Rugumayo, and I sh18m each, thanking us for the work,†Walakira said in a Police statement signed in February 2005.
The statement was admitted in court as evidence against the accused. Melakani, according to prosecution, approached Walakira over the deal.
Walakira, however, denied having connived to steal the money.
Ivan Jitta, who represented Walakira, objected to the evidence, saying the confession was made under duress.
The court, however, heard that Walakira made the statement implicating him and the other co-accused voluntarily.
Etom told the court that the statement was made in a conducive environment without intimidation from the Police.
They allegedly withdrew the money from the tax body’s account in Stanbic Bank, Corporate Branch, claiming they sold computers to URA through a company called Asterisk.
The accused are also being tried for abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud the company.
Prosecution, led by principal state attorney Fred Waninda, said the accused committed the offences in May 2005.
If convicted, the suspects face 14 years imprisonment.