Former Kampala mayoral aspirant denied bail, remanded over gold scam
Former Kampala mayoral contestant Leon Muhammed Kasule in the dock at Buganda Road Court on April 18, 2018. PHOTO BY BETTY NDAGIRE
KAMPALA-
Buganda Road Chief Magistrates court has denied bail to former Kampala Lord Mayor seat aspirant charged with defrauding individuals over Shs500m in a gold scam.
The accused Leon Muhammed Kasule last week denied three counts of obtaining money by false pretense.
While appearing in a session presided over by the chief magistrate, James Ereemye ruled that the accused once granted bail may abscond from court.
The presiding magistrate opted to adjourn the matter to May 9 for hearing.
While objecting to the accused person’s bail application, Mr Muwaganya told court that Kasule deliberately refused to surrender his two Ugandan passports to police.
“Your worship, the accused is a holder of two passports which he declined to surrender and he is a regular traveller that spends most of his time outside the country. One of the passports is expiring in the year 2025, while the other is expiring in 2026. So he can easily jump bail once granted,” Mr Muwaganya said.
Mr Muwaganya explained that he had talked to the investigation officer who notified him that an immigration officer can show up to attest to the allegations of the suspect owning two passports given a chance.
He said fraud may have been committed in Kasule acquiring a second passport. That whoever helped him, did it with clear knowledge. He added that it was very difficult to trace and arrest the accused person.
In reply, defence lawyer, Hamza Namunggu told court that his client has no history of ever jumping bail. He said Kasule has a fixed place of aboard in Kira division, where he can easily be traced.
Mr Namunggu noted that his client had briefed him that when a case was opened against him at Central Police Station (CPS), a police officer asked him to tender in his passport which he did.
Prosecution contends that Kasule on June 26, 2017 in Kampala District with intent to defraud obtained $48000 (over Shs177m) which was transferred to his bank account No. 2202771867 at KCB Main Branch Kampala from the Bank Account of Ms Florence Kiremerwa Account No.0123146105052701 at Eco Bank Kampala while falsely pretending that he was selling 2kilograms of gold whereas not.
It is further alleged that on the August 31, 2017 in Kampala with intent to defraud, Kasule obtained $79,990 (over Shs295m) which was sent to his bank account through inward SWIFT Pa-At DPC from a one, Mr Richard Richards 2502 EUTA in USA while falsely pretending that he was selling to him 25kilograms of gold.
On the third count of obtaining money by false pretense, it is contended that on September 13, 2017 in Kampala with intent to defraud, the accused obtained $29,722 (over Shs109m) which was still transferred to his account at KCB Main Branch Kampala through inward SWIFT Pa-At DPC from Mr Richards contending that this was an additional payment for the 25kilograms of gold.
