Physical planner charged over sh66m fraud

Sep 16, 2020

Macheri, with intent to defraud, allegedly obtained sh66m from Jorge Concalves Mendonca of Mota-Engil Africa, claiming the district local government officially assessed it as fees for inspection and approval of the plan for quarry campsite, whereas not.

ANTI- CORRUPTION|COURT|FRAUD|CRIME

Bushenyi district physical planner has been charged with abuse of office and allegedly obtaining sh66m from a construction company as fees for inspection and approval of plans.

Jackson Robert Macheri, 41, a resident of Katungu cell, Nyakabirizi Division, Bushenyi-Ishaka, is also facing charges of forgery, uttering false documents, and obtaining money by false pretenses.

Prosecution alleges that Macheri obtained the money from Mota-Engil Africa, purporting that the plans had been approved by the district physical planning committee, whereas not.

On Tuesday (September 15, 2020), Macheri appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate, Moses Nabende and denied the charges.

He is battling the charges under Section 11, 305, 342, 345, and 347 of the Anti-Corruption and Penal Code Act, respectively.

The offence of abuse of office attracts a maximum sentence of seven-years- imprisonment, on conviction, while forgery and uttering false documents attracts three-years-jail term.

The magistrate released the accused on a cash bail of sh16m, ruling that his sureties are substantial. Lawyer Denis Enap represented the accused.

Meanwhile, the court directed the sureties to execute a non-cash bond of sh25m. They were Stella Wegosasa, Michael Wanyala and Catherine Akello.

The magistrate awarded a high bail condition because the accused and the sureties did not deposit their passports in court to curtail their movements.

"I also consider the presumption of innocence of the accused and the offence is bailable," the magistrate noted.

State prosecutor Abigail Agaba from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution informed the court that investigations are still ongoing and asked the court to adjourn the case to another date.

"I pray that you give prosecution more time, pending investigations from police," she requested.

Prior to the bail ruling, the state told court that the sureties of the accused did not have financial capacity to pay the bond cash if the accused disappeared.

Offences

Prosecution alleges that on October 13, 2017 at Bushenyi district local government offices, in abuse of the authority of his office, Macheri issued an assessment letter of sh53.6m to Mota-Engil Africa for inspection and approval of campsite plans purporting it was approved by the district physical planning committee, whereas not.

Macheri is also accused of issuing an assessment letter of sh12.5m to the same company without the approval of the physical planning committee on October 3, 2017.

Prosecution also alleges that the accused with intent to defraud allegedly obtained sh66m from Jorge Concalves Mendonca of Mota-Engil Africa, claiming the district local government officially assessed it as fees for inspection and approval of the plan for quarry campsite, whereas not.

Court documents indicate that Macheri on November 10, 2017 allegedly issued Bushenyi district local government receipt No.0018201 of sh12.5m, purporting the same to be authentic and genuine, whereas not.

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