KALAKI
Three leaders of a Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO in Kalaki District have been charged before the Kaberamaido Magistrates Court over allegations of extorting money from beneficiaries of the government poverty alleviation programme.
The suspects were arraigned on Thursday afternoon by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The accused include Olingo Joseph, the Parish Chief of Okungure Parish in Kakure Sub-County, Edwonu James, Chairperson of the Opungure-Kakure PDM SACCO, and Ocepa Josphat, the SACCO Secretary.
According to investigators, the trio faces charges of obtaining money by false pretences and conspiracy to commit a felony. Court remanded the suspects until June 16, 2026, as investigations continue.
Prosecution alleges that during 2024, the suspects, together with others still at large, fraudulently obtained money from hundreds of residents seeking to benefit from the Parish Development Model initiative in Opungure Parish, Kakure Sub-County.
The accused allegedly deceived the victims by claiming they would facilitate the inclusion of their names on the list of beneficiaries eligible to receive financial support from the Opungure-Kakure PDM SACCO.
Investigators say the claims were false and that many of the people who paid money were never included among the programme beneficiaries.
The Parish Development Model is a government initiative aimed at improving household incomes and transitioning subsistence households into the money economy through parish-based financial support programmes.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other individuals believed to have participated in the alleged fraud scheme.
Torch Media Africa
