Two Sent to Kirinya Prison for Defrauding American Investor of Shs2bn
The prosecution's case outlines events from November 2022, when Ntende, employed as a dog handler by Krane, established a close relationship with him.
JINJA | Two men, John Wylciffe Ntende and Stephen Bogere have been remanded to Kirinya Main Prison in Jinja, charged with defrauding American investor Erik Scott Krane of Shs2 billion.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), arrested the suspects.
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The accused appeared before Jinja Grade One Magistrate Yafesi Ochieng, where they pleaded not guilty to charges including theft of property, conspiracy to commit a felony, and fraudulent conversion of assets.
They will remain in custody until October 7 when their case will be reviewed.
The prosecution's case outlines events from November 2022, when Ntende, employed as a dog handler by Krane, established a close relationship with him.
Trusting Ntende, Krane allowed him access to substantial sums of money for property purchases, including cars and land.
However, Ntende, with Bogere's assistance, sold off these assets without Krane's consent. This included the sale of a Mitsubishi Eclipse to Bogere for Shs30 million.
Bogere was also involved in misusing Krane's funds meant for a house construction project in Njeru Municipality.
During Krane’s visit to the US in early 2023, Ntende allegedly took advantage of his absence to steal and sell household items, vehicles, and land.
Upon returning, Krane discovered the theft of his belongings, including eight dogs, and reported the incident to the authorities.
Initially seeking help from local police in Jinja with no success, Krane turned to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Ntende and Bogere.
The stolen assets, which include two plots of land and various vehicles, total over UGX 2 billion. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit and CID are actively pursuing the case.
Magistrate Yafesi Ochieng has scheduled the next hearing for October 7, 2024. The suspects will remain in Kirinya Main Prison until then. Other individuals connected to the crime, including Sekiboobo James, are still at large.
