Wemali defilement case flops yet again

By Joseph Wanzusi in Mbale

THE hearing of a criminal case against embattled former Police athletics coach Peter Wemali who is accused of aggravated defilement failed to take off for the second time in the High Court at Mbale.

A source at the High Court told New Vision on Thursday that the case has now been put on hold until the judge herself will come to fix the hearing date.

Wemali has been on remand at Maluku Government Prison in Mbale after his case was amended and referred to the High Court in Mbale by Kapchorwa magistrates’ court.

Martin Anukur of Anukur and Company Advocates representing Wemali told New Vision that he has received information indicating that the judge Justice Jessica Naiga Ayebazibwe was not well to preside over the hearing.

“If the judge is not in good health to preside over the case, we have no immediate alternative but to hold on as we wait for her to fix the hearing date,” Anakur said when contacted on phone.

Wemali was arrested in April this year and first appeared before Grade One magistrate Robbs William Komaketch charged with rape but the charge sheet was later amended to aggravated defilement following medical tests on the accused (Wemali) indicating that he is HIV positive.

The five girls he allegedly defiled were aged between 15 and 17 years and it was the intervention of Sipi region Police commander James Ruhweza to have Wemali arrested and prosecuted.