By Simon Masaba

Police have arrested two suspects in connection to a fresh sh1bn pension fund scam involving another six officials from the ministry of public service.

The suspects were arrested while withdrawing sh22m from a Stanbic bank outlet on Tuesday in Ntinda, a city suburb.

The Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, Ibin Senkumbi, identified the suspects as, Fred Kiwanuka, a local mechanic operating in Kiseka market and Christine Namwaste a shop operator on Luwum Street, in the city centre.

The duo, Senkumbi said, allegedly worked close with the six officials from the ministry before committing the fraud.

  Without mentioning names of the implicated ministry officials, Senkumbi said, the fraud has been ongoing and the suspects have been withdrawing over sh20m weekly, according to the bank statements the police have acquired.

“The officials used retired and deceased pensioner’s passport photographs which were attached to bank documents before accounts would be credited with the cash and soon after it would be withdrawn in lamp sums by their recruits,” Senkumbi said.

He added, “As soon as the accounts would be credited the monies were withdrawn immediately by the suspects.”

By press time police was still questioning and recording statements from the suspects in connection to the con, while other detectives attached to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), had stormed the public service ministry for further inquiries.

“The detectives have gone to drop summons to the ministry PS to allow those accused appear before the police to shade more light about the allegations,” Senkumbi said.

 Efforts to seek a comment about the fraud at the ministry were futile as the known contacts of ministry spokesperson were repeatedly not being answered, neither called back.

The fresh scam comes four months after six Stanbic bank staff including tellers and supervisors from outlets of Mpigi, Hoima and Kikuubo (Kampala) were arrested in connection to sh600m pension funds theft.

 Police said the suspects were being held on charges of causing financial loss, conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement.

  Several officials from the ministry have been interdicted and battling in court over a disturbing figure of pension funds of over sh150b that they allegedly swindled.