Magistrate summoned over sh46m theft

By Farooq Kasule and Michael Odeng

BUGANDA Road Magistrate's Court has extended criminal summons against Moroto Grade One Magistrate, Grace Balintuma over alleged theft of sh46m that belonged to two UPDF officers.

The officers, Captain Charles Karemera and Lieutenant Edmund Mujuni are now deceased.

On Tuesday, court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Simon Zirintuusa Kintu extended the summons after the magistrate failed to turn up in court to answer charges of theft and intermeddling with the properties of the deceased persons.

Defence lawyer Peter Sebyuma told court that his client was sick and could not appear in court to answer the alleged charges.  This prompted the magistrate to adjourn the case to January 28 for plea.

If Balintuma 44, a resident of Naalya Estates, Wakiso district fails to respond to the summons on the said date, the court will be forced to issue warrant of arrest.  

Balintuma was charged with three counts of theft and intermeddling with the property of the deceased. She was charged with theft under section 254 (1) and (2e) of the Penal Code Act (PCA) meanwhile the other count is under section 11 (1) of the Administrator General's Act CAP 159.

Under the Public Service Standing Orders, any civil servant charged with a criminal matter is temporarily banned from carrying out her or his duties until the case is deposed of. This means she would receive half pay until the case is concluded.

Prosecution alleges that Balintuma on October 22, 2009 at Housing Finance Bank in Kampala took sh32m, the property of the late Karemera. 

It is further alleged that between the month of November 2004 and June 2012 without being duly authorized by law, intermeddled with the property of the deceased, by taking the said money.

It is also alleged that, Balintuma on August 13, 2013 at Housing Finance Bank Limited in Kampala took sh14m, the property late lieutenant Mujuni.