JINJA, (UG): Police in Jinja City are holding two suspects who were arrested on Monday in connection to conning people of their money by selling them property which doesn’t belong to them.
The suspects were identified as James Muwangara, 53, a resident of Bugembe and born of Nakakabala village, Mbulamuti sub-county in Kamuli district and Alex Ndegwe, 27, a resident of the same area.
According to Kiira regional police spokesperson SP James Mubi, Muwangara on July 10, this year reportedly received sh8m of sh20m for buying ten acres of pine tree found in Mawoito village, Buwenge rural in Jinja district which doesn’t belong to them.
“James Muwangara on July 10, 2023, reportedly received eight million from a complainant who didn’t prefer her identity to be disclosed. The duo dubiously sold ten acres of pine trees to the tune of 20m but the initial deposit was 8m. The trees didn’t belong to the suspects,” SP Mubi said in a statement adding that Alex Ndegwe wrote the agreement to that effect with a fake LC 1 stamp.
Preliminary information available indicates that the two suspects have been conning innocent people by selling off properties that don’t belong to them ranging from land, trees, vehicles, motorcycles, laptops, cameras, goats, cows, sugarcane plantations especially in districts of Jinja, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge, Iganga and Njeru in Buikwe district.
SP Mubi says upon learning of their conning business, officers from Jinja regional flying squad swung into action and tracked the culprits until they were arrested.
“The duo have been frequently calling the buyer and demanding for the sh12m balance and this enabled police to successfully track down the culprits using the said mobile phone numbers. They have been charged with theft, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence,” Mubi said, before calling upon members of the public who have ever been conned by the culprits to go to CPS Jinja and open up fresh charges against the suspects.
Speaking to DailyExpress in a separate interview, Mubi cautioned the public to always carry out due diligence before buying any property especially land or any other precious items like cars, and laptops, among others and as well to avoid buying second-hand property.
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