Business woman charged over $2,500 theft

CRIME | COURT | THEFTY

A 40-year-old business woman has been charged for stealing cash 2,500$ US dollars, worth over sh9m, agreements and books of accounts.

The charged is Prossy Boonabaana, also a social worker residing at Bugolobi Nakawa division in Kampala district.

Boonabaana appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court in Kampala where is was charged with two counts of theft, contrary to section 254 (1) and 261 of the Penal Code Act.

Grade One Magistrate, Asuman Muhumuza read her the charges which she denied having committed.

Prosecution led by Patricia Cingatho informed the court that inquiries in the matter were still ongoing, therefore requesting for an adjournment.

However, the accused defence counsel, Shiller Tumwine, invited the court to grant the accused bail saying the offences were bailable and she had substantial sureties.

 "Your honor worship, we pray that court exercises its due discretion and consider the two sureties substantial, both have permanent places of abode and their original national identity cards are in court," Tumwine said.

Among the sureties presented were Sulla Nuwamanya, a businessman residing at Kyengera in Kampala and Andrew Isoke, who deals in fabrication business.  

Responding to the bail application, the state objected to the sureties saying they had no introduction letters from their area of residences and therefore not substantial enough.

Delivering his ruling regarding the bail application, the trial Magistrate granted the accused a cash bond of sh500, 000 and ordered the national identity cards the latter and her sureties to be retained in court until the conclusion of the case.

"Though the sureties have not availed introduction letters from their local authorities, I find national identity cards genuine and hereby grant the accused a cash bail of sh500, 000," Muhumuza ruled.

He further ordered the sureties to avail to court the said Local Counsel introduction letters before Friday and adjourned the case to August 13, 2020 for mention.

The law

Under the law, any person who steals anything capable of being stolen commits the felony called theft and is liable, unless owing to the circumstances of the theft or the nature of the thing stolen to imprisonment not exceeding ten years, upon conviction.

The charge

Prosecution purports that on March 27, 2020 at Rmme building, Lumumba Avenue, central division in Kampala district, Boonabaana and others still at large, stole personal books and cash 2,500$ USD, property of Henry Mugisha.

It is further contended that during the same place and time, the accused stole receipt books, agreements, books of accounts and register books, the property of Lloyds Fx limited.