By;News room

Three former public service ministry officials; the Permanent Secretary Jimmy Lwamafa, Principle Accountant Christopher Obey and Commissioner Pensions Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa, today had their recently gained freedom cut short.

The three, who were last week granted bail by the Court of Appeal, have been remanded back to Luzira until next month when Anti-corruption Court’s Justice Margret Tibulya is expected to hear their bail application in the matter before her where they are charged with stealing 15 billion shillings in pension money.

Even though the head of the Court of Appeal Justice Steven Kavuma had last week released the trio, pending the hearing of their appeal where they challenge both sentence and conviction by Anti-corruption court judge Justice Lawrence Gidudu, for embezzling 88bn pension money; these couldn’t walk free until they apply for bail against other charges before Justice Tibulya

They appeared in court today but the prosecutors in this matter asked for ample time to prepare for the case having spent a full week away from office due to their strike.

The three were sentenced to 7, 10 and 5 years prison terms for falsely accounting for 88bn shillings as NSSF contributions of public servants.

However, the officials are still battling other cases before Justice Margaret Tibulya of the Anti-Corruption Court for alleged fraudulent payment of Shs15.4 billion to a city lawyer Bob Kasango in purported legal costs paid between 2011 and 2012, as costs of a 1998 high court suit.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Herbert Kabafunzaki, now facing bribery charges before the Anti-Corruption Court has on Tuesday taken a new plea before the court’s Justice Margret Tibulya, together with other suspects pleading not guilty to all charges read to them.

Kabafunzaki, his Political Assistant Brain Mugabo and Bruce Lubowa were last month committed to by the Chief magistrate of the Anti-corruption court to High court for trial after the Prosecution led by Babra Kauma informed court that investigations in the matter were complete.

Hearing of the matte today (Tuesday) flopped after State Attorney Tom Walugembe informed court that the State Attorney in charge of handling this matter was not around, and asked for an adjournment which Justice Tibulya agreed and it was fixed on 10th, 14th and 28th of August

Kabafunzaki and his co-accused are facing corruption charges, having allegedly received a bribe of FIVE million shillings, from tycoon Muhammad Hameed of Aya Group.

 


Tuesday 18th July 2017 09:35:15 PM