Woman arrested with UGX 9.5 million counterfeit curreny notes

Masindi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Masindi police have locked up a 20-year-old woman for alleged possession of counterfeit currency worth 9.5 million Shillings. Fosca Orodriyo was nabbed from Kijura trading center in the Central division of Masindi municipality on Sunday evening, when she attempted to defraud a mobile money agent.

It is alleged that Orodriyo approached a mobile money agent and instructed her to deposit Shillings 9.5 million on her account. She later handed the agent the Shillings 9.5million in counterfeit current notes of Shillings 50,000 and 20,000.

However, the agent realized the money was fake and raised an alarm that attracted residents who pounced on the suspect. They indeed confirmed that she had handed the mobile money agent fake currency.

Julius Kusiima, a resident of Kijura, says that they pursued the suspect after the mobile money agent sounded an alarm and to their shock, they discovered that the money she had given to the agent was fake. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says that the suspect is locked up at Masindi central police station pending interrogations.

He says the suspect is believed to have been working in connivance with other thugs in the district and the region dealing in counterfeit currency. He has rallied the business community and the public in general, to always be vigilant against such fraudulent individuals and groups. Hakiza too advised the public to share information about anyone they suspect to be circulating fake currency.

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