South Sudan Gold Dealer Malong In More Trouble Over Fraud, Money Laundering As Court Freezes His Bank Accounts, Multibillion Properties Caveated…

Justice Micheal Elubu of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has issued a Court order freezing bank accounts opened in the names of General Trading Limited registered in Stanbic Bank, land titles and documents connected to controversial South Sudan gold dealer Henry Ochown alias Malong Tong.

Justice Micheal Elubu of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has issued a Court order freezing bank accounts opened in the names of General Trading Limited registered in Stanbic Bank, land titles and documents connected to controversial South Sudan gold dealer Henry Ochown alias Malong Tong.

The orders came after the presiding trial judge was convinced that his bank accounts and other properties are connected to the crimes which Malong and other accused persons who are; Hassan Mohammed Abdalla, Mohammed Abdul Kadir, Jane Kudu Wabed, Isaac Makokha, Willy Sserunjogi, Harriet Kisitu Musisi, Moureen Sabano Phiro are still investigating.

The affected properties are, Bank Account No. 903000807260 in the names of M/S B.M.S General Trading Limited held at Stanbic Bank to the tune of USD 221,000; vacant land comprised in Kyadondo Block 185 Plot 8605 at Namugongo which is registered in the names of Jane Kudu; vacant land comprised in Kyadondo Block 185 Plot 2763 at Namugongo registered in the names of Isaac Mokokha; property comprised in Kyadondo Mailo Block 222 Plot 3654 registered in the name of Willy Sserunjogi Willy; Apartment block property located Kyanja comprised in Mailo Block 195 Plot 781 Nakawa Division; Kampala city which is registered in the name of Jane Kudu, property in Kungu comprised in Kyadondo Mailo; Block 194 Plot 3041 registered in the name of Harriet Musisi; motor vehicle registration number UA 536 BM, Noah Silver in colour registered in the name of Zaara Motors (U) Limited which was impounded and is being parked at Central Police Station Kampala).

Others are; property in Nakwero village, Kira Municipality Wakiso comprised in Block 172 Plot 5462 developed with a bungalow on the land.

The judge’s decision was based on the affidavit of the complaint by Levy Lawrence Omulen who is a businessman who told court that the accused person defrauded him of United States $ 2,568,566 in an investment scam.

He told court that he is running an engineering company called The Newplan Engineering Group Limited which he established 30 years ago which specialises in design and construction in fields such as energy, oil and gas, roads, and buildings.

He alleges that he was introduced to Malong and other accused persons by Juma Kisaame who falsely claimed to be investors interested in purchasing land for an industrial park and made various false claims about their wealth and connections.

“They lied to earn the complainant’s trust and persuaded him to invest. Lubwama claimed to be a supplier for a school in South Sudan and claimed to be connected to a wealthy family. Malong falsely stated he was the son of a late General Malong with access to a significant inheritance,” the complainant’s evidence reads in part.

Based on these false claims, the accused persons convinced the complainant to sell them land in United States Dollars $ 20,000,000 and he deposited approximately United States Dollars $ 2,100,000 in instalments, supposedly for equipment and machinery.

He further claims that the accused persons also took additional funds, allegedly for transferring cash from South Sudan to Uganda totalling to US Dollars $ 400,000

“Omulen alleges that he received boxes claiming that they contain cash, which they later proved to be counterfeit. Malong delivered multiple boxes to the complainant’s village home, asserting they held cash but were subsequently found to contain counterfeit dollars,” Court documents read.

They further explained that Malong ceased all communication with the complainant following the last delivery which forced him to report to the authorities, including the Department of Defence Criminal Intelligence (DCI) and he was arrested and he provided details of the plot to defraud him.

The investigation uncovered the involvement of several other individuals which caused the complainant to suffer a total loss of USD 2,568,566, along with a debt of USD 250,000 and Shs2.5bn which disrupted his investment plans and financial stability.

He pleaded with the Court to freeze the said properties because it will help him to get justice and compensation for his losses as well as recover assets acquired through fraud.

The complaint’s evidence was supported by a one Didas Mfitundinda an investigation officer who handed the file.

Didas is attached to the Asset Recovery Division of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Didas told court that all the accused persons are currently under investigation for the offences of illicit enrichment and money laundering.