Uganda Police is investigating circumstances under which about Shs100m was withdrawn from the account of a client of a local bank, Ms Sylvia Bahizi, undetected shortly after she lost her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and mobile phone handset to thugs on October 6.
The withdrawals were allegedly made in two instalments that widely exceeded the bank’s daily ATM cash withdrawal limits, which detectives said raised suspicions.
Mr Luke Owoyesigire, the Kampala Metropolitan police deputy spokesperson, said he was yet to be briefed by the investigating officer.
Through NSB advocates law firm, Ms Bahizi lodged a case of theft against the bank in Kampala.
Detectives on October 19 wrote to the head of operations and IT at the bank, summoning him to help with the investigations.
“This office is investigating a case of theft contrary to Section 254 (1) and 261 of the Penal Code Act, whereby money worth Shs100m was withdrawn from account numbers 5800543772 and 6004388990, all in the names of Sylvia Bahizi. You are hereby required to report to Jinja Road Police Station room 18 on October 21, at 10am,” the summons read in part.
We could not establish if the official reported to the police.
When we contacted the said bank official over the matter yesterday, he said: “This matter is under investigation and I cannot give you any comments right now. Go to the police if you want.”
The complainant’s lawyer, in a complaint lodged with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), informed police that Shs4m and Shs67.5m had been fraudulently withdrawn from Ms Bahizi’s accounts.
Mr Edgar Kakoma, the head of legal at NSB Advocates, said their efforts to settle the matter amicably with the bank in question failed after the financial institution blamed the client for reporting the matter late.
