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Apac, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID is investigating seven Apac district officials on allegations of embezzling 400 million shillings.
Charles Twine, the CID spokesperson has identified the suspects as Ekwang Tonny Paul, Apac Chief Financing Officer, Edoko Tom, the human resource officer, Sam Otim, the District Education Officer, Ebongo Godfrey, the accounting officer, Wanje Michael, the Chief Administrative Officer and Ochen David, the data entrant.
Police say the group created a list of district workers who included teachers and health workers claiming that they had missed salary for some months which translated into arrears. The data information process that is supposed to be generated by human resource was evaded using the finance department.
Investigators say even the alleged documents claiming for arrears of health workers that were supposed to be cleared by the District Health Officer were instead signed by the District Education Officer, later approved by the Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
URN has been informed that even the alleged beneficiaries of the arrears were not informed about the process but they found millions of money on their accounts. At least 21 teachers and health workers suspiciously received the money on their accounts.
“The money was sent on teachers and health workers accounts but they later received calls from the district officials informing them that they had received it in error. They were ordered to withdraw it in cash and later escorted to deliver it to the homes of these officials,” a detective explained quoting the statement recorded by workers whose accounts were used to fraudulently get the arrears.
The case is being investigated under Apac CRB 551/2021, and so far 21 people have recorded statements including the seven top district officials.
For one to claim arrears, he or she must make a claim in writing through the Head of Department, attach an appointment letter, a bank statement purposely to show salary for that particular month (s) was not paid and fill the human resource pay change form.
“All these well-laid procedures for claiming arrears were flouted. Nothing on file to show the alleged claimants existed. The recipients were not involved in the process but they only show the money on their accounts. One of the recipients declined to withdraw the money and demanded answers,” Twine said.
The money was sent to accounts in Centenary bank and Stanbic bank. The managers of these banks had declined to allow the withdrawal of the money, instead they suspected an element of money laundering. But the HRO (Odoko Tom) engaged the banks and it was released.
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