Arua chaos case: Bobi Wine, other suspects' lawyers want confiscated vehicles returned

Lawyers representing the 33 people in the Arua municipality by- election have asked court to compel the state release vehicles belonging to some of the suspects in the case confiscated during their arrest.

Kassiano Wadri was arrested together with 33 others including Kyadondo East’s Robert Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine, Gerald Karuhanga and Paul Mwiru following the chaos in Arua that allegedly culminated into the stoning of President Museveni’s convoy on August 13 and were charged with treason.

On Monday, when the group returned to court for mention of their case, their lawyers led by Asuman Basaalirwa asked court to compel  the state release the vehicles since they are not exhibits.

“The state has not indicated whether vehicles are going to be exhibited. The president’s vehicle which is alleged to have been stoned is not at scene of crime but the vehicles of these people(suspects) are at scene of crime. A vehicle cannot be used to throw stones,”Basaalirwa told court presided over by grade one magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana.

“We seek your indulgence for orders that the vehicles of accused be released because they have no bearing on the charges before court.”

Basaalirwa also told court that phones confiscated from the accused by security operatives are being used to call some of their relatives in a big to trap them.

He asked court to order the phones returned to the suspects.

State denies

The state prosecutor, Julius Ochen denied the allegation by the defence lawyers as being unsubstantiated asking the magistrate to throw out the request.

“It is very normal for an accused to allege anything concerning his case whether true or false,”Aceng said.

The prosecutor however asked court for more time to consult on the issue of releasing the confiscated vehicles belonging to the accused.

The grade one magistrate adjourned the matter to December 3 to allow the state complete investigations into the matter.