UGANDA, Soroti | Real Muloodi News | Denis Ocung, a senior engineer in Soroti District, has been charged with abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud the district.
Mr Ocung appeared before Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro at the Anti-Corruption Court, where he was accused of conspiring to defraud the district of USh24.4 million.
The funds in question were part of a larger amount of USh394 million allocated for the construction of a piped water system in Adamasiko, Ojor Parish, Kalie Sub-county, Soroti District.
Court documents indicate that Mr Ocung, who was employed as the acting district engineer at the time, recommended the payment of USh24.4 million to Time Traders Transporters Limited for work that was never done.
He is charged jointly with Mr Ismail Odeke, the Director of Time Traders Transporters Limited, who is currently at large.
During the court proceedings, Mr Ocung pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution, led by Gertrude Apio, informed the court that investigations into the case are still ongoing and incomplete.
After denying the charges, Mr Ocung applied for bail. The court found the presented sureties to be substantial and granted him bail in the amount of USh4 million in cash.
Additionally, his sureties were required to provide a bond worth USh100 million, non-cash. The case has been adjourned until August 1, 2023, for mention.
Mr Ocung was arrested on Monday 26th June 2023, in Soroti by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the police. He was promptly brought to court following his arrest.
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