Portuguese national charged with attempted rape

Aug 01, 2019

Dias da Costa Domingos Joaquim is accused of sexually harassing three women between April 2018 and July 2019.

COURT

SOROTI - Soroti Grade One Court Magistrate Sylvia Nvannungi has remanded a Portuguese national on charges of attempted rape, sexual harassment and indecent assault.

Dias da Costa Domingos Joaquim, 63, a human resource manager with Mota-Engil, was arrested by the Police a month ago after three women working as cleaners at his office in Soroti town reported cases of sexual harassment at Kengere Police Post.

Mota-Engil is a Portuguese group that operates in the sectors of civil construction, public works and ports. The firm is contracted by the government to construct Malaba-Corner Kamdin road.

Domingos was released on Police bond as the Police mounted investigations in regards to the allegations brought against him until Wednesday this week.

"After gathering our evidence, we rearrested him and the Resident State Attorney has preferred charges of attempted rape, sexual harassment and indecent assault," the Police spokesman for Kyoga East Michael Odongo said.

Moments later the Police detectives marched Domingos to court where charges were read to him before he was remanded to Soroti Government Prison Wednesday evening.

He did not enter a plea.

 ias da osta omingos oaquim being led by olice detectives to court credit odfrey jore Dias da Costa Domingos Joaquim being led by Police detectives to court. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

 

According to the charge sheet, Domingos is accused of sexually harassing three women - Mary Alukudo, Winnie Nambuya and Esther Akwi - between April 2018 and July 2019.

"This is a sensitive matter that I cannot discuss with you," his lawyer, Philip Engulu, told New Vision when asked why Domingos had not entered a plea.

The magistrate declined to grant the media access to the court on grounds that it is only the chief magistrate who can grant the permission.

On return to court on Thursday, Domingos' lawyer told New Vision that his client was likely to be further remanded.

 

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