Six Ugandan bankers in court for theft of pensioners fund

The suspects allegedly stole billions of Ugandan shillings belonging to Pensioners.

Six members of staff of a Stanbic Bank in Uganda are being tried by the country’s Anti-corruption Court for allegedly causing a loss of 298 million Ugandan Shillings belonging to 34 pensioners.

The bank officials are also accused of allegedly withdrawing the amount through conspiracy and fraudulent practices.

The accused persons who appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court on Friday, according to local news, are Denis Mpanga, 31, the Manager of the Bank’s Kikubo branch in Kampala, and Aisha Mubiru, 30.

Others include, a supervisor at the same branch, Robert Muhoozi, 46; the Manager at Mpigi branch, Fred Mulindwa, 45; a banker, Bright Twinamasiko, 28; a cashier at Cooperate Branch in Kampala; and Hanifah Nakanjako, 34, a Manager.

The seventh suspect, Molisto Abaine, a former cashier, did not appear in court for plea taking, prompting the court to issue warrant of arrest on him.

The suspect bankers denied the charges.

A source from the bank, told local media in Kampala on condition of anonymity that the suspects had allegedly formed a racket, colluding with outsiders to present forged documents, pretending to be pensioners. The source said the suspects reportedly presented driving permits of pensioners with their photographs and withdrew their money without authorisation.

According to the source, 34 pensioners affected by the racket are holding the bank responsible for a loss of more than 1.2 billion shillings because it did not pay the rightful pensioners whose money, kept under its care, had been fraudulently withdrawn under false pretences.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons allegedly authorised payment of different sums of money amounting to 298 million Ugandan Shillings from the accounts of pensioners, Pearl Mutibwa Katumba and Lawrence Pario, without authorisation.

The local media said the money in question was allegedly withdrawn from their different bank accounts in different locations. They said the charge sheet further showed that one Mutibwa was the most affected as he lost more than 250 million Shillings compared to Mr. Pario, who lost 4.4 million Shillings.

The alleged cyber crime was committed in 2012 between December 4 and 24.

The offence attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years on conviction.

(NAN)