Policewoman arrested over taking bribe to release dead body

In a classic case of the hunter becoming the hunted, a Police officer and a security guard are being held at Soroti Central Police Station in Soroti district over allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe in order to release a dead body.

The Police officer Amina Nandutu and Leo Otoo a security guard at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital were arrested on Saturday morning at around 1 am after they held up the remains of Joyce Mary Apila.

The relatives are said to have pleaded to the duo in vain and only received the body after paying sh20,000 of the sh30,000 that was being asked from the suspects.

A case of soliciting and receiving a bribe against the two officers was opened under the file CRB/03/02/2019.

According to the Kyoga East Police spokesperson, Michael Odongo, James Egabu a relative of Apil placed a call to Akiror after paying the money. Akiror then State House mobiliser, Teddy Acham, who tipped the Police.

"We are holding the two, and as soon as the investigations are over, we shall charge them at the Anti-Corruption Court for soliciting and receiving a bribe," Odongo said on Monday.

Interestingly, the hospital administration late last year requested the Police to boost the hospital's security.

This was after unknown people posing as medical workers stole government drugs, conned patients and their caretakers under the pretext of helping them receive treatment.

This not only caused overcrowding in the hospital but it also uproar amongst members of the public who felt were being cheated.

Odongo cautioned the members of the public against giving any Police officer money and asked them to report any case regarding the Police to the District Police Commander, Regional Police Commander, Inspectorate of Government or Police's Professional Standards Unit.

The late Apila who hails from Kapir sub-county in Ngora district is said to have been a close relative to the state minister for Teso affairs, Agnes Akiror and Acham.