Crown Converters former employees pinned over sh1.6b
Sep 15, 2016
Prosecution said that some of the money deposited on their accounts could have been illegally transferred from Crown Converter limited.
Former employees of Crown Converters limited accused of embezzling sh1.6b from the company received money on their accounts, court said yesterday.
Peter Opio, the head of operation from Crane bank has told court that he retrieved bank statements of Dave Shailesh and Patel Laximikant and established that money was deposited on their accounts.
Prosecution said that some of the money deposited on their accounts could have been illegally transferred from Crown Converter limited.
Prosecution said the accused supplied goods from Crown Converters to different customers across the country and allegedly deposited the money on their accounts.
Patel Aniket(M) talks to his defense lawyers after the Court proceeding, Patel Aniket and three others Alpesh Kumar Tailor Jagdishbhai, Dave Shailesh Kumar Laximkant Patel all former employees are facing charges for embezzling 1.6 billion.Photo by Ramadhan Abbey
Testifying as prosecution witness, Opio told Justice Margaret Tibulya of the Anti- Corruption Court in Kololo, Kampala, that the period of deposit is from June 2007 to February 2010.
He was giving evidence against Patel Aniket, Taylor Alplesh, Patel Laxmikant and Dave Shailesh who are accused of embezzling 1.6b from Crown Converters, the suppliers of stationery.
Court heard that the money was deposited on different dates by a person only identified as Kalokwera on Shailesh account, 13 times amounting to sh27.8m and on Laximikant account money was allegedly deposited twice totaling to sh3.5m.
Prosecution tendered in court the bank statements indicating different deposits as exhibits, the defence lawyers did not object.
Prosecution led by senior state attorney Barbara Kawuma said Aniket, Laximiknat,Aplesh and Shailesh allegedly conspired between June 2005 and December 2009 at Crown Converters offices in Kampala to steal from the company.
They are charged with embezzlement, forgery, and uttering false document. They denied the charges.
While the offence of embezzlement under the Anti- Corruption Act section 19(a) (iii) carries a maximum sentence of 14 years on conviction. Under the Penal Code Act section 347 the offence of forgery carries 3 years imprisonment on conviction
Prosecution said that the fraud was unearthed by one of the managers Go Pal Patel, that money meant for Crown Converters Ltd was illegally transferred to private accounts of the accused.
It is further alleged that police inquiries revealed that a number of resolutions binding the company (Crown Converters) had been changed without the knowledge of other directors.
Prosecution said a separate police investigations also established that the accused stole1.676,445,058. The case was adjourned to October 14 for further hearing.