MTN manager charged with theft

By Angela Nalumansi
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A manager with telecommunications giant MTN Uganda has been charged with theft of over 126 Samsung smart-phones.

Mark Ngobi Obbo, a former sales and accounts manager of the company and resident of Kyaliwajala –Namugongo in Wakiso district, appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Olive Kazarwe.

“It is alleged that you, Ngobi, stole Samsung smart-phones valued at sh270,572,190, property of MTN Uganda,” read in part the charge sheet.

He committed the offense between July 2012 and June 2013 at the MTN headquarters in Kampala.

He however denied the charges and his lawyer, Sabstian Amaru Orach applied for bail on grounds that Ngobi had a right to bail and the charges he is facing are bailable by the Chief Magistrates’ Court.

This was after the prosecutor Peace Biira informed court that investigations are still ongoing.

The accused’s lawyer presented two sureties who included his wife Carline Ainebwa, a banker with Barclays Bank and Pastor Phillip Omondi of Hope Deliverance Church in Nakulabye.

“The accused is hereby granted bail of sh2m cash and his sureties are bonded at sh14m not cash,” Magistrate Kazarwe stated as she released Ngobi.

She also ordered that he produces a local council (LC) letter with passport photos attached to prove his area of residence in addition to depositing his passport in court.

She adjourned the case to November 14, 2013 for mention.

Ngobi joins a list of other MTN staff that have been charged with theft and causing financial loss to the telecom company.

Already MTN had close to 20 people charged in the Anti-corruption Court over theft of billions of mobile money.

The hearing of their charges however staled after the Constitutional Court stopped the Anti-corruption Court pending the determination of a constitutional petition that is challenging the legality of magistrates to sit in this court since it is designated as a high court.