The Anti Corruption Court in Kampala has remanded five employees of Equity Bank on charges of conspiring to defraud the bank of shs62 billion.
Julius Musiimenta, the head of agency banking , Erina Nabisubi the relationship manager in charge of telecom, Fred Semwogerere a banker , Crescent Tumuhimbise Tibarwesereka, the relationship officer and Wycliffe Asiimwe a distribution and marketing consultant were on Wednesday arraigned before acting senior principal Grade One magistrate Albert Asiimwe and charges of the money laundering, obtaining credit by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud read against them.
Prosecution told court that the accused persons between 2021 and 2024 in different places in Kampala and Wakiso Districts, the accused conspired to defraud Equity Bank of shs62 billion by fraudulently causing the disbursement of unsecured loans to unqualified people.
Court was told that during that time at Equity Bank Church House in the city centre, being employed Nabisubi incurred a debt of shs6.55 billion shillings from the bank by falsely pretending that the loans were being applied for by Gladys Najjemba whom she fronted as having fulfilled the bank requirements for accessing the loans whereas not.
Evidence adduced also indicated that Nabisubi intentionally impeded the establishment of the true ownership of shs6.5 billion which she fraudulently obtained from the bank through account number 1032100370335 in the name of Najjemba purporting it was applied for as a loan yet it was a proceed of crime.
Nabisubi is further accused of having incurred a debt of shs300 million and fronted a one Latiffa Nagawa as the person who had fulfilled the requirements to secure that loan which was not true.
On the other hand, Julius Musiime is said to have intentionally concealed the true ownership of shs18 million which he allegedly received as a gratification from Stella Mutuuza for having processed a loan of shs700 million by requiring her to deposit the said gratification on the account number belonging to Gilbert Rwaheru Kiiza , while these deposits were a proceed of crime.
The accused were however not allowed to take plea since their offence is only triable by the High Court.
Prosecution led by State Attorney Raymond Mugisa told court that investigations into this matter are still ongoing and asked for more time.
The lawyers for the accused persons led Solomon Webaare Araali have asked the Court to direct the Prosecution to avail them all the necessary documents for purposes of seeking bail in the High Court and to enable them prepare for the trial.
They were remanded to Luzira Prison until April, 12, 2024.
