Basajjabalaba bails out MP charged with fraud

FRAUD

KAMPALA- City Businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba has stood surety for Kitagwenda county Member of Parliament, Abbas Agaba accused of obtaining sh110m by false pretence.

On Thursday evening, Agaba was arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Mariam Okello who read out the charges to him.

Agaba, 39, the vice chairman of the committee of rules, privileges and discipline at 

Parliament was charged with six counts of obtaining the money by false pretence contrary to section 305 of the penal code Act.

Prosecution alleges that between August 2016 and May 2017, at Lugogo by pass house in Kampala, Agaba obtained sh110m from former NRM Bulamogi west aspirant George Patrick Kasajja under the pretence of representing him in court, which he never done.

The Parliament records indicate that Agaba obtained a bachelor's degree in law in 2016 at the Islamic University in Uganda.

Kasajja was embroiled in a court battle with Bulamogi West MP Frederick Ngobi Gume.

Agaba also a lawyer by profession denied the charges and immediately applied for bail through his lawyers Caleb Alaka and Evans Ochieng.

Among the people that stood surety for him included Basajjabalaba, and his fellow MPs Michael Mawanda and Gafa Mbwatekamwa.

Alaka requested court to release Agaba on bail on grounds that the offences against him are bailable.

State prosecutor, Charlotte Kwikiriza did not object to the bail, prompting the Chief Magistrate to release him on a cash bail of 2m. His sureties were bonded at sh20m not cash.

Kwikiriza informed the court that investigations are still underway prompting the magistrate to adjourn the case until April 10 for mention.