Mr Charles Malinde the Tororo district senior assistant engineer officer who was accused of stealing materials for the construction of Kagera bridge worth Shs.15.6 million has been released on cash bail of 7million.
however he is battling three counts of embezzlement, causing financial loss and false accounting as a public officer.
The principal magistrate grade 1 Moses Mushebebe on Tuesday granted a bail to Mr Malinde after finding out that his sureties were substantial and were bonded on non cash shillings 10million.
“ You should be ready to forfeit shillings 10 million to the state of the accused disappears,” Nabende told the sureties.
However according to the charge sheet, Mr Charles Malinde is a resident of Agola village in Rubongi sub county. Meanwhile prosecution led by Nicholas Kawoya alleges that Mr Malinde between November 2021 and April 2022 in Tororo Municipality while assigned as a force account manager for the construction of the Kagera bridge during the financial year 2021 /2022 omitted to exercise his responsibilities over the works knowing that it would cause a financial loss of shillings 16.6 million to the government.
Prosecution further alleges that Mr Malinde stole 24 pieces of 900 mm concrete culverts and 24 pieces of 600 mm concrete worth 9.6 million shillings a property to which he had access by virtue of his office.
In regards to false accounting by a public officer, the prosecution alleges that Mr Chales Malinde in February 2022 was charged with the receipt, custody and management of public revenue in the sum of shillings three million ,knowingly furnished a false statement of accountability.
Meanwhile the offence of embezzlement and causing financial loss attracts a maximum sentence of 14 year’s imprisonment upon conviction while false accounting by a public officer elicits a three year jail term.