The pre-trial of the case involving two employees of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), who are accused of soliciting a bribe of shillings 800 million from a taxpayer, is scheduled to start today ( Monday)
The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro, is set to hear the case against Caroline Naggoli and Benedict Sekaayi.
The charges against Naggoli and Sekaayi include offences of corruption and abuse of office, as outlined in sections 2(a), 26, and 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 as amended. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in jail, while abuse of office attracts a sentence of seven years in jail or a fine not exceeding sh1.3 million, or both.
According to the prosecution led by Hildah Atusimiire and Davis Thomas Lomuria, the alleged offences took place on March 30, 2023, at Guanghua Hotel in Kololo, Kampala.
It is alleged that Naggoli and Sekaayi, in the performance of their duties as a supervisor and URA officer respectively, sought a bribe of shillings 800 million from Tong Jiao to reduce the tax liability from sh4.1 billion to shillings 2.2 billion.
Furthermore, the prosecution alleges that Naggoli and Sekaayi abused their positions at URA by demanding bribe from Tong Jiao to reduce tax liability owed by Migoo and Trading Company Limited.This prosecution said the acts were prejudicial to the interests of URA. They denied all the charges and are out on bail.
