The two were masquerading as senior officials from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema.
By Acipa Doreen
Lira City – 14, May 2021: Lira Grade One Magistrate has Friday 14, May 2021 remanded to Lira government prison two fake state house’s anti-corruption unit staff for obtaining money by false presence.
The impersonators, Denis Olwa, a social worker and former Alebtong district local government’s district council speaker and Elly Apenyo, a businessman, were charged with three counts: impersonation, getting money by false pretense, and uttering false documents.
The two were masquerading as senior officials from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema.
The Magistrate Court says that contravened Sections 381. Uttering false documents contrary to section 351 and obtaining money by false presence contrary to section 305 of the Penal Code Act.
They appeared before Lira Grade One Magistrate, Hillary Tanazio Murangira who read the charges to them.
Prosecution tells Court that on May, 10, 2021while at St Lira Hotel, the two claimed to have come from State House Anti-corruption Unit and extorted Shs500, 000 from a civil servant, Moses Otim who is attached to Dokolo district local government with claims that they would offer him a job in the ongoing teachers’ recruitment in Dokolo district.
Court also heard that the duo even approached Albert Apeny, an employee of Lira district local government, hence these people agreed to meet at St Lira Hotel before being arrested and taken to Lira central police station.
They, however, denied all charges and asked to be released on bail on ground that they have been in police custody for close to four days without being produced in court.
The Lira Resident State Attorney, Mr. Alex Omara told court that he was not in contact with the case.
The accused defense lawyer, Mr. Isaac okae of Okae Basaliirwa Kakarwe and Company Advocates requested court to release the accused on bail. He said that they were kept in custody for over 72 hours and that his clients (accused) are bread winners to their families.
In his submission, the Magistrate then remanded them till May 18, 2021.