Arua Municipality treasurer Erejo Kami and town clerk Kasaija Kayim who were arrested last week by the Anti-Corruption Unit led by Lt Col Edith Nakalema have been slapped with a 35M shillings cash bail by the anti-corruption court.
The two were granted bail pending conclusion of investigations into charges of abuse of office, diversion of government funds and conspiracy to defraud before Grade One Magistrate Moses Nabende.
The Anti-Corruption Court has slapped a cash bail of 35 million shillings each upon the Arua Municipality Town Clerk Kasaijja Kayim and Principal Treasurer Erejo Kami pending investigations into the diversion of over 436M shillings that was meant for the construction and payment of two roads in the municipality.
Upon prosecution’s request by Alice Komuhangi, Grade One Magistrate Moses Nabende instituted the cash bail and a non cash bond of 500M shillings per surety saying that the duo are battling charges involving colossal sums of money.
Defense lawyers have deemed the cash bail excessive and in a way directed to their clients’ as way of punishment yet bail is a constitutional right.
The two were arraigned and charged with three counts of abuse of office, diversion of government’s funds and conspiracy to defraud to which they both pleaded not guilty.
State alleges that between 2017 and 2018, these and others still at large diverted over 436M shillings that was meant for the construction of Mango Road and Afra Lane Arua Municipality.
By press time the families and lawyers of the two were still trying to look for the money. These will return to court on the 20th February, 2019.
These were arrested by the Lt Col. Edith Nakalema led State House Anti-Corruption Unit instituted by the president last year.
