Basajjabalaba pays Shs60 million to secure bail

After spending two nights at Luzira prison, city businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba  Friday regained his freedom after court granted him a cash bail at a staggering Shs60 million.

Mr Basajjabala was bailed by Chief Magistrate, Irene Akankwasa of the Anti- Corruption Court in Kampala.

While granting him bail, Ms Akankwasa concurred with the submission of the defense lawyers that there is no evidence that the businessman will abscond from court.

“The law demands that the police criminal summons be served personally to the suspect. There is no evidence that the police served him personally,” said the magistrate.

She said it is not true that the accused was running away since he had been granted bail by Buganda Road Court.

She said: “He will be given bail but on stringent conditions. The accused is released on a cash bail of Shs60 million, his sureties are each bonded at a non- cash of Shs4 billion.”

The magistrate also ordered Basajjabalaba to deposit his passport at the court.

Moments after the businessman was granted bail, his relatives and friends jubilated outside court.

The businessman is facing charges of alleged forgery of a consent document which led to the government paying him Shs142 billion.

Similarly, court issued criminal summons to his brother Mr Muzamiru Basajjabalaba who is on the run to appear before court on January 28 to plead to the same charges.