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UTL cables theft case: Scrap dealer accuses police of torture
What you need to know:
Prosecution contends that Mwambu, Katabira, Wetaka, Onyangaia, Mugabi and others still at large on the night of October 20, 2018 at Wandegeya a city suburb, damaged, removed and tampered with approximately 250 metres of a 600 copper core cable, belonging to UTL.
Kampala. Court has ordered Uganda Prisons Service to retrieve medical reports of a scrap dealer who accuses security officers at Special Investigations Unit in Kireka of torturing him to sign a charge and caution statement linking him and others to stealing copper core cables.
The property valued at more than Shs33m belongs to Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL).
Fredrick Mwambu,34, yesterday appeared at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court session presided over by Gladys Kamasanyu.
Mr Mwambu objected to state tendering in his charge and caution statement on court record asserting that he was forced to sign on the statement but he did not give police the details on it.
He is facing charges ranging from damaging or tampering with installation, theft and conspiracy to commit theft alongside four others.
The other accused are Ibrahim Katabira ,40, a driver, Bernard Wetaka ,24, Stephen Andrew Onyangai ,33, a police officer at Wandegeya and Abdallah Mugabi,36, a businessman
After listening to Mr Mwambu, State attorney Janat Kitimbo opted to cross-examine him.
“Before signing the charge and caution [statement] at police somebody handcuffed and caned me. I started passing blood in urine, because my spine was also spanked. Days before, officers at Kireka took me to court, they brought in a doctor who gave me some tablets,” Mr Mwambu said. He said he was remanded at Kawuga Prison in Mukono District where he continued to receive treatment.
This forced Ms Kitimbo to ask court to order prisons authorities to produce Mr Mwambu’s medical reports for court to ascertain if he was indeed tortured.
Mr Mwambu was reluctant to agree with the State request claiming that officers from prisons cannot give truthful reports pining police as they are confidants.
However, Ms Kamasanyu granted the order to prisons to bring Mr Mwambu’s medical reports.
Court adjourned the matter to April 8, for hearing.
Background
Prosecution contends that Mwambu, Katabira, Wetaka, Onyangaia, Mugabi and others still at large on the night of October 20, 2018 at Wandegeya a city suburb, damaged, removed and tampered with approximately 250 metres of a 600 copper core cable, belonging to UTL. It alleged that the accused stole copper cables valued at Shs33m.
