Jinja, (UG): Police in Kiira Region Friday arrested and detained John Peter Eriu, a 25-year-old resident of Butiki Matala, Buwenda ward, Jinja Northern division in Jinja City for impersonating a police officer to deceive, rob and kill innocent people.
The suspect who is currently detained at Mafubira police in Jinja, is being charged with among others aggravated robbery, impersonation, giving false information and being in possession of government stores, Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson, SP James Mubi said in a police statement.
According to SP Mubi, Eriu has been under strict and thorough background monitoring by the intelligence team following reports from the community that he was in possession of government stores.
“John Peter’s tragic character has been under thorough background check by the intelligence team following reports from the community that he has a pistol, army uniform, police uniform and uniform parts. He’s being charged with aggravated robbery, personation, giving false information and being in possession of government stores,” SP Mubi said.
Upon executing a search warrant at his rented house on Wednesday and Thursday at his residence in Butiki Matala, police retrieved a number of items of evidence value from his house and others from the neighbourhood dustbin in a banana plantation.
The items included a toy pistol, two pairs of army shoes, two batons, a UPDF navy blue t-shirt and a police t-shirt belonging to instructors at Kabalya police training school.
Other items retrieved from the dustbin included fake documents such as DFCU ATM cards, Kampala University Jinja campus ID, fake sim cards and two sharp pangas.
Police have commended the people of Mafubira for working closely with them by giving credible information which led to the successful mission of arresting the suspect.
“We appreciate the community of Mafubira for sharing credible information and still encourage members of the public to always remain alert against such masqueraders,” SP Mubi said before confirming that at least fifteen people had so far lodged their complaints against the accused person calling upon others to do the same in case they once fell prey of the suspect.
Under the command of regional police commander SSP Rogers Sseguya, Police said they are committed to weed out all the wrong elements in the region citing that the tragic acts of such people have hindered the growth and development of various businesses in the region.
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