The Police at parliament yesterday arrested a man for attempting to extort money from a government official with a promise of helping them get free of a corruption scandal the official had been allegedly involved in.
Francis Malinga is said to have approached the official within parliament premises and flashed a letter addressed to the chairperson of the Committee on Public Accounts, Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE).
Malinga convinced the official that their name had been subject to a whistle-blower’s actions, accusing them of corruption and self-aggrandizement, adding that, he would have the official’s name at a specific fee of Shs20m cleared.
While doing so, Malinga maintained to the official that he is a member of staff at parliament.
The two agreed to a deal and Malinga would pick the money at the Parliament canteen later.
Alas, the official tipped Parliament administration who in turn contacted the Parliament police to waylay Malinga at the canteen. Malinga was found eagerly waiting there, yanked off his feet, and consequently arrested for fraud.
In a letter from the office of the Clerk to Parliament, Waiswa Henry Yoweri advised members of parliament to take caution while dealing with different people at the premises.
“Be vigilant against any persons who purport to be employees at parliament. The staff of parliament have no mandate to clear or personally handle a matter before the committee,” the letter reads in part.
It has been the norm at parliament for different parties to approach committees with all manner of bribes to be let off the hook.