Chinese suspects opt for plea bargain
Jul 03, 2020
The 37 Chinese nationals accused of several charges including phone tapping and illegal stay in Uganda, want a plea bargain. They made the appeal on Tuesday, before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate, Marion Mangeni.
By Douglas Mubiru
The 37 Chinese nationals accused of several charges including phone tapping and illegal stay in Uganda, want a plea bargain. They made the appeal on Tuesday, before Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate, Marion Mangeni.
Through their lawyers, led by Julius Mujurizi, the accused invited the court to stop the hearing proceedings and allow them engage in talks with the State.
The defence's bid for a plea bargain came shortly after the prosecution, led by Ivan Kyazze, lined up six witnesses to pin the suspects.
Kyazze said they were ready for the plea bargain, but invited the court to hear at least two of the six witnesses who were already in court.
The defence argued that the accused have no sureties and have spent many days on remand, adding that it would be of
justice to them if a plea bargain agreement was reached with the State.
The magistrate suspended hearing of the case, giving the greenlight for the plea bargain process to take off.
THE ACCUSED
Among the accused is Lin Zhi Long, 31; You Jing Dao, 50; Xu Zheng Nen, 22; Lao Xiao Feng, 30; Guo Wei Zheng, 35; Chen Huan Huan, 36; Liu Jia Feng, 29; Deng Guo Guo, 37;Mao Xue Xue, 37, and Chen Si Hong, 32.
Others include Lin Yi Ming, 50; You Jing Dao, 50; Li Jia Zhao, 28; Lin Shao Sheng, 54; Tang Lu, 37; Yang Jun, 34; Chen Kang, 31; Wu Guan Yong, 41; Mao Ya Jan, 33; Lin Zinchuan, 32; Luo Xiao Zhuang, 37; Li Ren Zhe, 34, and Lu Jin Hang, 38.
THE CHARGES
The prosecution alleges that on March 19, 2020, in Lubawo zone, Kireka in Kampala, the accused were found in possession of 2,373 Redmi mobile phones suspected to have been smuggled into Uganda without clearance from customs.
The accused allegedly unscrupulously accessed information when they unlawfully accessed 1,895 Airtel SIM cards without authority for the purpose of obtaining directly or indirectly Airtel telecom services.