Pension suspects carry loads of bail money to court

Tuesday, 05 February 2013 23:09

Written by Siraje Lubwama

In his book, “Betrayal in the City” Kenyan Francis Imbuga wrote about a character whose problem was not money but how to spend it.

This in essence is what happened to the interdicted Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Public Service Jimmy Lwamafa and his seven co-accused in the pension scam. Lwamafa and his co-accused are facing charges of abuse of office, embezzlement, neglect of duty, theft and causing financial loss worth Shs 165.2bn. They were each granted cash bail of Shs 50m after eight of them spent two days in Luzira prison.

Lwamafa’s other co-accused include Christopher Obeyi, director of Research and Development; David Oloka Principal Accountant; Francis Lubega, Information System Analyst and Steven Lwanga, senior accountant, all in the ministry of Public Service. Others are Peter Sajjabbi the East African Community Beneficiaries Associations Secretary, Ishaka Ssentongo, assistant manager of operations, Cairo International bank and Rahama Nakigozi who was lastly charged yesterday with three counts.

Most people, who are granted cash bail, are usually seen making several frantic calls to raise the money. Not this group. Shortly before the bail application was granted, their relatives were heard asking their lawyers how much cash was needed at court and one lawyer told them that they should have between Shs 50m and Shs 100m, to which they responded that that was not a problem.

However, the two staffers of Cairo International bank, who are also Lwamafa’s co-accused, had no hope of raising the money and were subsequently sent back to prison. Each surety executed a Shs 20bn non-cash bond. In addition, grade one magistrate Sara Langa ordered all the accused’s passports to be deposited with the police before adjourning the case to March 1 for mention.

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Comments

+1 #1 Julius 2013-02-06 10:31

they stole money not stones and still have it
they even invested that money and made profits out of it. some is not a problem to these theives

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+3 #2 Lakwena 2013-02-06 14:16

Since it's our money, the courts should start asking in billions of shillings as cash bail, and/or without surity. That will be the sure deal it (court) can recover the stolen moneys.

The billion cash bail also becomes the evidence for which the the thugs should be locked up for life. Under a similar situation, I am sure even industrilists like Mukwano would fail to bail themselves out- Otherwise, how did they get such moneys, which are far and beyond their official means. .

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+1 #3 Bendo 2013-02-06 15:54

where were political who are supposed to over these people, when the billions were stolen. If that much can be stolen in front of the ministers, what is the use of having ministers heading ministries.

while the technocratic faces charges in courts of law, why should the political leaders continue enjoying there sleep. Even political negligence should be seen to be punished for.

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0 #4 kabayekka 2013-02-06 15:56

One would like to know the culprits who absconded from the law courts 1980 just after President Muwanga rigged the national election in favour of Dr Obote' s Tanzania-exiled government?

Indeed Justice must always be seen to be done world wide. It is an international human right.

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+1 #5 rogers michael 2013-02-06 18:06

These are thugs! My father died without getting his hard earned pension and these muchos were busy stealing the pensioners' money. They should be made to pay back all that they stole!!

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+2 #6 spaxx 2013-02-06 18:21

These men might escape human justice but can never escape Divine justice. The stolen funds will constitute an everlasting torment in Hell, where they must remain for all eternity, together with their conniving relatives and every person that abetted their selfish acts.

Also, restitution of stolen goods is an absolute prerequisite for obtaining forgiveness from God. For someone who has looted millions of shillings, let alone billions, and probably spent much of it, restitution is not likely to happen. So, spiritually speaking, these fellows are in an unenviable situation.

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Pension suspects carry loads of bail money to court

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