Written By |
Lamwo District LCV Chairman Sisto Oyet Ocen
Search
Lamwo District LCV Chairman Sisto Oyet Ocen was on Wednesday charged and remanded for various cases related to selling three government vehicles
He was charged with four counts of obtaining goods by false pretense, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to defraud.
Ocen was arrested in a joint operation carried out by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) and the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) officers.
In a statement released on Wednesday, SHACU noted, “This afternoon, SHACU in collaboration with CID and the Office of the Director Public Prosecution (ODPP) have arraigned Ocen, the Chairperson LCV of Lamwo District before the Chief Magistrates Court, Lamwo on charges of obtaining goods by false pretense, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to defraud.”
The statement noted that the accused and Richard Obalim Omoo, the chairperson LCIII of Padibe Town Council who is still at large with others, between the months of April and May 2024 in Lamwo District, conspired to defraud Government of Uganda, three vehicles; registration number UG 0445M Toyota Hilux Pickup white, numberless Toyota Hilux white and numberless Land Cruiser white, the property of Lamwo District Local Government, purporting that they were taking them for repair but instead sold them to a businessman.
Ocen was remanded until July 18, 2024.
Meanwhile, Lamwo district Grade One magistrate court has yesterday remanded the district Deputy Speaker to Kitgum central prison until July 25, 2024, on allegations of extorting money by false pretense.
James Ocen, who also doubles as the councilor LC5 for Katum Sub County was arrested by police on Tuesday from Padibe Town Council in Lamwo district after information emerged that he had allegedly picked sh600,000 from one Bibiana Anena with promises of helping her get a job at Lamwo District Local Government as a teacher.
He allegedly picked the money from Anena, a teacher at Dove Valley Primary School located in Palabek Kal Town Council in Lamwo District, on May 2, 2024.
However, on realizing that she wasn’t going to secure the job following job interviews that were conducted on May 5, 2024, Anena demanded for a refund of her money from Ocen.
According to a police officer who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, Ocen was first arrested on June 13, 2024, after a case of extortion was reported at Padibe Town council police Station under reference file SDF 04/13/06/2024. He was however released on police bond on June 14, 2024, after refunding sh200,000 out of the sh600,000 back to Anena.
Reports indicate that Ocen promised to clear the balance of sh400,000 by July 1, 2024, as agreed but failed to live to his promise prompting his arrest this week.
While appearing before the Lamwo Grade One magistrate Vincent Oonyu yesterday, Ocen pleaded guilty to the charges of extortion.
This prompted the Grade One Magistrate to remand him to prison until July 25, 2024, when he will be expected to reappear in court.
David Odongmadiki, the Lamwo District Vice Chairperson condemned the action saying there is no provision of the law that warrants authority to any political leader to pick money from anybody in exchange for a job offer.
