By Angel Lubowa
President’s Office,
KAMPALA
About seven people were yesterday arrested by the anti graft agencies for involving them selves in a fake gold scam.
At a press briefing held at Units’ Offices at the President’s Office at Parliamentary Building, Mr. Bamwiine Muhorozi, a Senior Officer at the Unit, revealed that the suspects had defrauded USD 70,000 from Mr. Mark Gbillah, a Nigerian businessman.
The fraudsters falsely claimed they could supply him with seven kilograms of gold through their companies — Legacy Refinery Limited & Emerod Agency Limited — which in reality had no gold to supply.
The suspects are:
Paluku Kisasi , a Congolese national, purported gold seller, Safari Akonkwa, a Congolese national, purported clearing agent for Legacy Refinery Company, Isaac Mpende , a Congolese national, purported agent at Legacy Refinery Company Limited and Abdul Madjid Kahirima a Ugandan national, purported gold smelter.
Others are Mabwongo Prince , a Congolese national, purported gold seller from Congo, Kajjubi Tevin Kyome , a Ugandan national, representative of Emerod Co. Ltd.and Tibasiima Barbra, alias Katushabe Sharon , a Ugandan national, Secretary of Emerod Co. Ltd.
Mr. Bamwiine noted that the arrests were made possible through the cooperation of the victim, Mr. Gbillah, who promptly reported the matter to the Unit. Working together, the Unit set up a controlled meeting with the fraudsters, leading to their arrest before they could extort additional funds.
A search of the suspects’ rented premises in Muyenga, where they conduct their fraudulent operations, led to the recovery of approximately 150 kilograms of fake gold bars and imitation gold nuggets.
Mr. Bamwiine further emphasized that this is not the first gold scam intercepted by the Unit, but this case was particularly significant as the suspects were caught in the act, preventing further financial losses to other potential victims.
He urged members of the public and investors to verify business transactions with the relevant authorities and to continue reporting suspicious activities to safeguard themselves from scams.
The suspects are set to be charged in the courts of law.
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