An accountant has been remanded to Luzira Prison over allegedly stealing sh981.7m from his employer.
Jacob Pascal Owematum and Moses Tookema Komakech were charged with embezzlement, contrary to section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Act and money laundering, contrary to sections 3, 116 and 136 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The duo today, June 26, 2024, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court presided over by Senior Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit and denied the charges. They have been remanded until July 5, 2024.
The offence of embezzlement attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, on conviction, while money laundering elicits a 15-year jail term or a fine not exceeding sh2b.
According to the charge sheet, Owematum is an accountant with Amstus Polymer Packaging Limited and a resident of Gwafu Village Seeta Mukono district while businessman Komakech is a resident of Olyera-Obiya Village Gulu City and Buwaate Village Kira Municipality, Wakiso district.
The defence lawyer Perez Sakwa told the court that he will apply for bail for his clients at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.
The State Attorney, Safina Bereke from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
“I pray that the Police are given more time to complete inquiries in the matter,” she requested.
Prosecution alleges that Owematum between December 2023 and April 2024 at Namanve Industrial area Mukono district being employed by Amstus Polymer and Packaging Company Limited as an accountant stole sh981.7m, the property of his employer.
It is purported that Owematum received the money through his personal Centenary bank account number 3200859470 Kumi Branch.
On the other hand, Komakech is accused of concealing the establishment of the true nature of funds in the sum of sh15m, which he fraudulently obtained from Owematum by using the mobile money account number 0708622088 in the name of Patience Nakyanzi to transfer to his mobile money account, knowing that such funds were proceeds of crime.
Komakech allegedly committed the offence between December 2023 and April 2024 in Wakiso district.