City lawyer Andrew Kasirye of Kasirye Byaruhanga yesterday quietly went to the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (CIID) where he was interrogated by detectives over a Shs1.6 billion dubious compensation from the judiciary.
According to a source that was briefed about the interrogation, Kasirye who appeared alongside Paul Luticu, was grilled for several hours by D/ASP Opendi who recorded their statements.After hours of intense grilling, the two were later released on police bond.
Their file will be sent to the DPP for perusal and advice.
The interrogation of lawyer Kasirye comes after the Secretary to the Judiciary Pius Bigirimana, requested the Police Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (CIID) to inquire into payments totalling to Shs1.6 billion in alleged refund of security deposits by litigants, suspiciously passed through accounts of a private company.
In a letter to CID Director Grace Akullo, Mr.Bigirimana asked the CID to validate the source of the requisition for the said money in regard to the Commercial Court case of Kasekende Mujuzi & Others Vs Uganda Revenue Authority; and also wants investigators to probe a $ 48,294.26 payment to law firm M/s Kasirye, Byaruhanga and Company Advocates in the case of Entebbe Handling Services Vs Uganda Fish Packers Ltd.
As a result, the CIID asked three senior court officials to help the police with investigations in regard to the payments for requests made for refund of security deposits by litigants.
The three are Chief Registrar Tom Chemutai and registrars Mary Ikit and Dr.Agnes Nkonge.
In a July 10, 2020 letter to Mr Bigirimana, the Director for Police’s Criminal Intelligence l Investigations, Directorate (CIID)Ms Grace Akullo indicated that investigators want to find out the source of the transfer of over 1.6 billion from the judiciary accounts to M/s Heed Debt Recovery Service Ltd in Eco Bank.
Ms Akullo said that the money was transferred by Bank of Uganda to the said account and by the time the fraud was detected, the suspects had already withdrawn Shs 200 million.
In a separate correspondence, Mr Bigirimana had written to Ms Akullo asking the CID to investigate the two payments to establish whether they were fraudulently requisitioned or are genuine saying he had been alerted by the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Keith Muhakanizi about the a possible fraudulent payments.
Mr.Bigirimana explained that the payment was again originated by a court order signed by Dr Nkonge and the requisition was originally made by His Worship Tom Chemutai (Acting Chief Registrar) and later by Ms Ikit on January 16, 2020.
