Ahead of the court session scheduled for Friday November 10th for further mention of the case involving the head of Petroleum Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) Spero Byokunda, sources privy to the case has landed on a dossier soliciting for financial support for possible bail.
Byokunda, who is the suspected mastermind of the fraud case in which he and the co-accused sought to fleece US$50M from a Serbian Investor, has been on the run since the scandal was unearthed in October.
In a WhatsApp dossier seen by this publication allegedly written by Byokunda, he is seeking a financial help from his associates.
From this text, Spero warns the recipients to keep the document confidential.
“I salute you my friend, my brother, my sister or relative, all protocol observed. This message is specifically meant for you and should not be forwarded to any other person other than you. As you may be aware, I am battling a nagging criminal case in court where I was acrimoniously conscripted in a case in which I did not participate in the incident of investigation but unfortunately I found myself being awkwardly charged,” he writes.
Byokunda further states that he was not on police bond like all other suspects and that he did not go to court on 24th October but his co-accused were remanded till 10th November 2023 and that is when he will also appear and either go to prison or get bail.
He explains that court cases moreover criminal ones are not cheap to surmount and that he will need the help of the people the dossier was sent to.
“My humble appeal is to seek for your support in form of finances, legal advice and being surety when you are called upon. Any contribution will be highly welcome,” he writes.
Mobile numbers for to which contributions are to be wired were availed as well, in the names of his first wife Mrs. Florence Byokunda.
“For ease of sending you can route it through 07724***54 and 07014***54 in the names of FLORENCE BYOKUNDA,” the text ended.
This soliciting of finances had our sources wondering why Byokunda would be in this position having received half of the first deposit off the deal cash from the unsuspecting investor.
It is alleged, however, that before his arrest, Frank Kigundu who is one of the suspects, had ordered for some expensive cars which are yet to be received.
Meanwhile, this publication also learnt that state prosecutors in this case wrote to Byokunda’s bosses at Amber house summoning his to the Friday court session.
Court summons
Spero Byokunda snubbed Court summons and went into hiding while his accomplices appeared before City Hall Magistrate last week on Tuesday. They were remanded until Friday 10th when they will reappear for further mention of their case. This is when they will apply for bail.
The seven suspects including Spero Byokunda, while at Amber house in Kampala, organised a meeting and forged contract documents for the supply of solar street light systems purportedly from Ministry of Energy.
The forged documents were to be issued to a Serbian investor with the intent to defraud him of USD 50M.
