DPP staff arrested over soliciting Shs3.5m bribe in Masaka

The Inspectorate of Government has arrested an officer assistant (clerk) at the regional Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) office in Masaka City over reportedly soliciting a bribe.

The suspect is accused of soliciting Shs 3,550, 000 bribe from a man to help him process his case file under reference SD 84/16/10/2023.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the money was recovered from the suspect on Wednesday evening following a search conducted by Masaka Central Police Station detective Muhammad Twesigye in the presence of senior state attorney Mariam Njuki.

According to Sam Agaba, the head of the Inspectorate’s Masaka regional office, the officer’s arrest followed complaints from a local seeking justice.

“He [suspect] kept telling the complainant that for her to get justice, she had to give in a bribe. When we got the complaint, we laid a trap in which the suspect was arrested and on searching him, we indeed found him with the money he had solicited from the client,” he said in an interview on Thursday

“We want to sound a serious warning to public servants especially those in the justice law and order sector.I urge them  to desist from requesting for bribes in order to do their  lawful duties which they are  paid for,” he added.

Agaba said the IG office will continue to arrest, name and shame officers that are soliciting bribes from the public.

“I advise the public to report such incidents promptly to ensure transparency, accountability and improve service delivery in the community,” he observed.

The suspect is currently detained at Masaka Central Police Station awaiting to be taken to Kampala where he will be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court, authorities said.