The Statehouse anti-corruption unit has arrested four Congolese nationals and three Ugandans over defrauding a Nigerian Businessman of UGX 249 million in a fake gold scam.
The senior officer at the unit, Mr. Bamwiine Muhorozi while parading the suspects to the media on Tuesday 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” he said.
The suspects include Paluku Kisasi, a Congolese national and purported gold seller, Safari Akonkwa, a Congolese national and purported clearing agent for Legacy Refinery Company, Isaac Mpende, a Congolese national and purported agent at Legacy Refinery Company Limited, Abdul Madjid Kahirima a Ugandan national and purported gold smelter, Mabwongo Prince a Congolese national and purported gold seller from Congo, Kajjubi Tevin Kyome, a Ugandan national and representative of Emerod Co. Ltd and Tibasiima Barbra, alias Katushabe Sharon a Ugandan national and Secretary of Emerod Co. Ltd.
Mr. Bamwiine noted that the arrests made in collaboration with the police CID 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” he said.
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.
