By Racheal Najjuma

25th May 2023

 

Lawyers representing embattled State Minister for Karamoja, Agnes Nandutu have objected to her trial at Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

 

Nandutu is battling charges of dealing with suspect property in the infamous iron sheet scandal at the Prime Minister’s Office.

 

Her lawyers led by Kampala Criminal lawyer Caleb Alaka asked the court presided over by Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga to halt the trial which had been scheduled to start on Thursday.

 

They want the case file sent to the Constitutional Court for its interpretation on whether the charges against Nandutu won’t infringe on her right to a fair hearing.

 

The Prosecution alleges that during the month of June 2022 at the office of the Prime Minister’s Stores in Namanve and Kkola Cell Bulwanyi Parish Mukono District, Nandutu dealt with government property that is 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets Gauge 28 by receiving and holding the said iron sheets.

 

According to the Prosecution, Nandutu had reason to believe the iron sheets were acquired as a result of loss of public property, an offense under section 10 of the Anti Corruption Act of 2000 as amended.

 

But on Thursday when the matter came up for hearing, Alaka said that they cannot proceed with the hearing because the charges against his client are imprecise, ambiguous, vehemently vague, and broad in nature, and as such her right to a fair hearing will be infringed.

 

He noted that the charges against Nandutu are not clear as it is supposed to be in law.

 

He argued that the charge sheet does not specify one offense of dealing with suspect property and that in the particulars of the offense, the Prosecution seems to introduce another charge of causing loss of public property.

 

END


Thursday 25th May 2023 05:39:51 PM