Man jailed 10 years for mobile money fraud
KAMPALA- A 32-year-old man was on Friday sentenced to a total of 10 years in jail by two separate magistrates at Buganda Road Court for defrauding two separate individuals using mobile money.
First case
John Turyarenga Mutambira was found guilty of duping Ntungamo Municipality Mayor Jacob Kafureka through a text message that his son, the Ntungamo Municipality Member of Parliament, Mr Gerald Karuhanga, needed Shs3.9 million.
Court heard from the prosecution witnesses that on July 12, 2017, Mr Kafureka, upon receiving the message, tried to reach his son through a phone call in vain.
Mr Kafureka opted to make a deposit of the sum as directed by the text message using mobile money.
However, later when he managed to reach his son, MP Karuhanga, he found that he had not asked for any money from him.
Mr Kafureka reported to the police and investigations were commenced leading to the arrest of Mr Mutambira, who was charged with two counts of electronic fraud and theft.
Presiding magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu on Friday ruled that the prosecution had proved its case and sentenced Mr Mutambira to seven years in jail.
The magistrate held that this punishment will act as a deterrence to would be offenders.
Court as well directed that the vehicle the convict had bought using the money in question should be handed over to Mr Kafureka.
Second case
In the other case before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate James Ereemye, for which judgement was also entered on Friday, Mr Mutambira was found to have duped one Mr David Bazibu, the manager of Ankole Resort Hotel, through a disguised text that Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana had directed him (Bazibu) to send him an advance payment for a contract the deputy attorney general had entered with him.
On this occasion, Mr Mutambira was found to have used a telephone line registered in the name of Simon Peter Mateega and caused Mr Bazibu to send him Shs3 million pretending that it was an advanced payment for a contract with Mr Rukutana.
The convict was in this matter facing four counts ranging from electronic fraud, obtaining money by false pretence and theft.
Mr Ereemye found him guilty on all the counts and sentenced him to a fine of Shs4 million and that in default, he should spend three years in jail.
Court also ordered the convict to compensate his victim all the sums he deceitfully acquired from him.
