A composite team from CID Headquarters, the Special Investigations Division, KMP Headquarters, Jinja Road Division, in coordination with the Investigations Department at Stanbic Bank, Uganda, has in custody 9 suspects who are scheduled to appear before the Anti-Corruption Division in Kololo, after they fraudulently accessed a client’s account, and made unauthorised transfers of funds, worth USD1.8M, into other bank accounts, established solely for the purpose of receiving the stolen funds. At the direction of the Branch Managers, the funds were withdrawn and stolen, using forged documents of a Kenyan Passport number AK 0849025 and forged inter Account Transfer Forms, all in the names of Mohamed Abdul Hakim Hussein, one of the Company Directors and a signatory of the Account, of Nile Energy.
The suspects in conspiracy with selected Stanbic Bank staff at Garden City and Freedom City branches respectively, compromised the account of Nile Energy, effected Inter Account Transfers (IAT) and made withdraws using 3 accounts that included; Account Number 9030012835107 in the names of Dixon Kagurusi Ampumuza; Account Number 9030021572615 in the names of Petrom Limited and Account Number 9030018628871 in the names of Famane Investments Co. Ltd.
At least 3 cash withdrawals and 5 Inter Account Transfers were made as follows; on the 24.01.2023, while at garden city, withdrawals of USD 40,000, USD 90,000 and IACs of USD 295,000, to Famane Investments Co Ltd, USD 300,000 to Petrom Ltd; on the 31.01.2023, an IAC of USD 495,000 was effected to Petrom Ltd; on the 1.02.2023, a cash withdraw of USD 60,000 was made from Freedom City Branch; on the 2.02.2023, an IAC of USD 287,000 was made to Petrom Ltd and another IAC of USD 295,000 was made to Dixon Kagurusi Ampumuza, by the suspects, purporting to be Mohamed Abdul Hakim Hussein, the Director of Nile Energy, while using forged documents. It was also established that Petron Limited belongs to a one Oscar Kyabukasa Lutaaya and Hashur Rahman, as the Directors, while Famane Investments Co. Ltd, is owned by Oman Ghebreyesus, Fiona Dede Bwende and Elijah Daniel Wanzu as Directors, at Freedom City Branch and Garden City Branch.
And on the 3.02.2023, a one Tefera Okubaslassie Robel, an Eritrean Refugee, was intercepted with two Inter Account Transfer forms, with a face value of USD 988,200, that was to be effected from the Nile Energy Account and thereafter, credited into an Account Number in the names of Dixon Kagurusi Ampumuza, the Director of Petrom Ltd. The suspect also had in his possession, a Kenyan Passport Number AK 0849025 in the names of Mohamed Abduhakim Hussein, which prompted the bank to verify with the Account holders, who denied any authorisations. The suspect was arrested and found with USD 4900 and Ugx.shs. 600,000 in his possession; which was exhibited.
Immediately after, the 3 Directors of Famane Investments Co. Ltd, were arrested. Upon interrogation, they admitted to having received the stolen cash, which they used in a Gold transaction of USD 250,000 with Mansoor and Sam Fred. No supporting documents were provided to support the alleged transaction. Efforts are also in place, to trace a one Dixon Ampumuza Kagurusi, the Director of Petrom Ltd, who is still in hiding.
So far 12 suspects have been arrested, out of whom 9 are to be charged to court on the 13.02.2023, on charges of causing financial loss and money laundering. These include; Tefera Okubaslassie Robel, who was intercepted with a forged passport and funds transfer form in the bank, Ayesiga Moses, the branch Manager of Stanbic Bank, Garden City Branch, who allegedly effected the two transfers of USD 287,000 and 295,000 from Nile Energy Account to Petrom Ltd in a fraudulent and illegal manner, Natukunda Brian, a former employee of Stanbic Bank, who introduced Kagurusi Dixon Ampumuza (on the run) to Moses Ayesiga, the 3 Directors of Famane Investments Co. Ltd, namely; Oman Ghebreyesus, Fiona Dede Bwende, Elijah Daniel Wanzu, in whose company account number, money was received and Ssekito David, the Manager at Freedom City Branch. Other charges of forgery and utterance of forged documents are being processed.
These arrests send a clear and unmistakable message on the police determination and dedication in fighting this kind of criminality.
Furrher, we urge all banks to put in place better prevention and detection mechanisms.
SCP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
13th February 2023
