A search of the suspects’ rented premises in Muyenga, where they conduct their operations led to the recovery of approximately 150 kilograms of fake gold bars and imitation gold nuggets.
Conmen Fleece Turkish Businessman of sh500m in Fake Gold Deal
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) working closely with the Crime Investigations Department (CID) has arrested seven people including a woman, in connection to a gold scam during which they are said to have defrauded USD70,000 from a Nigerian businessman identified as Mark Gbillah.
This was disclosed by a senior officer at the unit Bamwine Muhorozi during a press briefing held at units’ Offices at the President’s Office, where he disclosed that the seven had hoodwinked their victim that they could supply him with seven kilograms of gold through their companies Legacy Refinery Ltd and Emerod Agency Ltd.
Those arrested include four Congolese nationals; Paluku Kisasi, Safari Akonkwa, Isaac Mpende and Mabwongo Prince, and three Ugandans including Abdul Majid Kahirima, Kajubi and Barbara Tibasiima alias Sharon Katushabe.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing at the unit’s headquarters at Parliamentary Building, Bamwiine said the arrests were effected acting on a report by victim Gbillah and subsequently, the Unit set up a controlled meeting with the fraudsters, leading to their arrest before they could extort additional funds.
A search of the suspects’ rented premises in Muyenga, where they conduct their operations led to the recovery of approximately 150 kilograms of fake gold bars and imitation gold nuggets.
Bamwiine further emphasized that this is not the first gold scam intercepted by the Unit, but this case was particularly significant as the suspects were caught in the act, preventing further financial losses to other potential victims.
He urged members of the public and investors to verify business transactions with the relevant authorities and to continue reporting suspicious activities to safeguard themselves from scams.
