Police detectives charged with destroying exhibits

Left to right: Police officers Mariah Nangobi, Moses Okello, Apollo Kibuuka and Karim Bakole at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo in Kampala on Setember 24, 2020 where they were charged with abuse of office, and conspiracy to commit a felony and arson. PHOTO /ABUBAKER LUBOWA

What you need to know:

  • In a separate case file, Mr Karim Bakole was charged before Chief Magistrate Pamela Lamunu Ocaya with abuse of office, arson and destroying evidence.
  • Mr Bakole, who was the officer in charge of exhibits stores, allegedly destroyed evidence by setting the CID office on fire. 

Four detectives at Katwe Police Station in Kampala have been charged with destruction of exhibits.
Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Apollo Kibuuka ,  Sgt Mariah Nangobi and constables Karim Bakole and Moses Okello were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court at Kololo in Kampala.

They denied the charges of abuse of office, corruption, neglect of duty, destroying evidence and conspiracy to commit a felony.
They appeared before Grade One Magistrate Abert Asiimwe.
Mr Kibuuka, Ms Nangobi and Mr Okello were granted cash bail while Mr Bakole was remanded to Kitalya Prison pending hearing of his application for bail via video link.

Mr Asiimwe barred the three suspects from going back to Katwe Police Station until completion of the case.
Mr Stanley Baine, the State attorney, said investigations into the matter were still ongoing.
Prosecution alleges that between August and September this year at Kwatwe Police Station in Kampala City, AIP Kibuuka abused his office when he failed to disclose money exhibits recovered by him in the cases of theft of Lato Milk. The prosecution further contends that Mr Kibuuka, who was also the officer-in-charge of the Land Desk, neglected to report the recovery of cash exhibit of Shs1m.

Prosecution states that the four suspects and a CID aide, Ms Prossy Forsca Chandia, who was not present in court, knowing that cash exhibit of Shs1m was required as evidence in a judicial proceedings, destroyed it with intent to prevent it from being used in evidence.
The state further alleges that the five suspects conspired to destroy the evidence.


Another case
In a separate case file, Mr Karim Bakole was charged before Chief Magistrate Pamela Lamunu Ocaya with abuse of office, arson and destroying evidence. Mr Bakole, who was the officer in charge of exhibits stores, allegedly destroyed evidence by setting the CID office on fire. The chief magistrate advised Mr Bakole to get substantial sureties to stand for him if he wished to be released on bail.