DPP clears three aviation police officers

Mar 21, 2018

Prosecution failed to adduce evidence implicating the trio in the case of destroying evidence

COURT

WAKISO - The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has dropped charges of destroying evidence against three of the six suspended senior police officers working at Entebbe Aviation Police (AVIPOL).

The cleared are the former commandant of Aviation Police, Lodovic Awita; Sgt. David Owinyi and Sgt. Deo Muhebwa.

This comes after prosecution, led by Julius Tuhaire, had failed to adduce evidence implicating the trio in the case of destroying evidence.

In her ruling on Monday, the Entebbe court chief magistrate, Mary Kaitesi, told the state attorney to continue with the investigations until sufficient evidence implicating the trio is found.

Kaitesi said once evidence is found, the three would be re-arrested for trial. She adjourned court to April 4.

The three senior Police officers were arraigned before Entebbe chief magistrates' court and charged with destroying evidence contrary to section 102 of the penal code act, in November last year.

The others still detained are ASP Natalis Imoly, who was the officer in charge of crime intelligence at the Aviation police, AIP Michael Ssemuwemba and Sgt. Julius Mwesigwa.

Prosecution alleges that between 2013 and 2015 while working at the aviation police station in Entebbe, knowing that narcotic drugs may be required in judicial proceedings, the accused destroyed it with intent to prevent it from being used in evidence. Prosecution also stated the quantity of destroyed narcotics as 34.5Kg.

Tampering with evidence can be any action that destroys, alters, conceals or falsifies any sort of evidence.

Tampering with evidence can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony and carries conviction of one year for misdemeanor or 20 years for a felony.

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