Nine Suspects Held for USD1.8M Financial Fraud Involving Nile Energy’s Account
Ugandan authorities have apprehended nine individuals in connection with a financial fraud case that saw an estimated USD1.8 million stolen from the account of Nile Energy, a local energy company. The fraud was committed using forged documents and false identities, in collaboration with some Stanbic Bank staff.
The Accused Individuals
The suspects, who include Mohamed Abdul Hakim Hussein, one of Nile Energy’s directors and a signatory to the account, are currently detained and awaiting trial at the Anti-Corruption Division in Kololo. Other suspects include:
- Dixon Kagurusi Ampumuza
- Petrom Limited (owned by Oscar Kyabukasa Lutaaya and Hashur Rahman)
- Famane Investments Co. Ltd (managed by Oman Ghebreyesus, Fiona Dede Bwende, and Elijah Daniel Wanzu)
The Fraudulent Activities
The accused individuals managed to forge a Kenyan passport with the number AK 0849025 in Mohamed Abdul Hakim Hussein’s name and used it, along with forged Inter Account Transfer Forms, to withdraw funds from Nile Energy’s account.
- Three separate withdrawals totaling USD 540,000 were made from the Garden City branch and Freedom City branch.
- Five Inter Account Transfers worth USD 1.11 million went to the aforementioned accounts.
The Stanbic Bank Employees Involved
The police also identified three Stanbic Bank employees involved in the scam:
- Ayesiga Moses, the Branch Manager of Stanbic Bank, Garden City Branch
- Natukunda Brian, a former employee of Stanbic Bank
- Ssekito David, the Manager at Freedom City Branch
The trio is accused of facilitating the fraudulent transfers in violation of bank regulations.
The Recipients
One of the recipients, Petrom Limited, is owned by Oscar Kyabukasa Lutaaya and Hashur Rahman. Famane Investments Co. Ltd is managed by Oman Ghebreyesus, Fiona Dede Bwende, and Elijah Daniel Wanzu.
Tefera Okubaslassie Robel, an Eritrean refugee, was apprehended on February 3, 2023, with Inter Account Transfer forms and a fraudulent Kenyan passport with the name of Mohamed Abdul Hakim Hussein. The intended recipients of the forged transfer forms were Dixon Kagurusi Ampumuza, the Director of Petrom Ltd.
Efforts to Locate the Director of Petrom Ltd
The Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, highlighted that efforts are ongoing to locate Dixon Kagurusi Ampumuza, the Director of Petrom Ltd, who is still at large.
Charges against the Suspects
A total of 12 suspects are now in custody, with nine of them scheduled to be charged in court on February 13, 2023. Charges against them include causing financial loss and money laundering.
Prevention Measures
Enanga urged banks to enhance their prevention and detection mechanisms to curb financial frauds.