3 arrested in Obongi for extorting PDM beneficiaries

Last week, three SACCO leaders were arrested in Obongi district for allegedly extorting money from PDM beneficiaries in Ewafa sub-county.

The arrests were carried out on the orders of Residents District Commissioner Samuel Hasaka Mpimbaza, following several complaints raised by beneficiaries during the inspection.

Mariamu Nasur, a 72-year-old woman from Ewafa sub-county, stated that Isile Swab, the Ewafa parish SACCO chairman, persuaded her to pay shs150,000 in order to benefit from the PDM fund.

According to her, the reason for the money was that she lacked a national identity card.

“These people came here for a meeting to talk about PDM, and then they chose six people to benefit. However, I was not chosen because my ID was burned in the house,” Mariamu explained.

After she narrated, Isile, the chairman of the PDM SACCO, returned and told her: “God has answered your prayers and the sixth person who has been selected to benefit was not around.”

“I told him my identity card had been burnt, but Isile said I should pay some money, which I did, and the money totaled shs150,000.”

She stated that she has not received her PDM money since August of last year.

Mariamu’s elder son, Asiraf Nasur, has also confirmed that her mother received no benefit from paying the money she was asked for.

“As the law deals with the matter, I need my mother’s money returned.

“I am requesting the RDC’s assistance so that my mother’s shs150,000 can be refunded,” Nasur stated.

RDC Samuel Hasaka Mpimbaza revealed that in Obongi district, more than 15% of SACCO leaders were extorting money from beneficiaries, which he described as illegal.

Following his order, the three Ewafa parish PDM SACCO leaders were remanded to the Silili prison farm in Moyo district.

“Here in Obongi, I discovered that PDM leaders are extorting money from beneficiaries, which is illegal. As district leaders, particularly my RDC office, I am traveling to all parishes in Obongi to sensitize people and learn about their problems with government programs, as directed by the President.”