(Kampala) — Lin, a 40 year old Chinese national and resident of Bugolobi, Nakawa Division, was charged with two counts of making false statements to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on October 23, 2024. Lin, the Director of Linwin Holdings Ltd, was accused of submitting falsified Value Added Tax (VAT) returns.
The charges were brought before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, under the jurisdiction of Magistrate Esther Asiimwe. Lin was charged under Section 67(1)(a) of the Tax Procedure Code Act, Cap 343, which outlines penalties of up to 10 years in jail or a fine not exceeding shillings 110 million if convicted.
The prosecution, led by Stuart Aheebwa, an acting manager in charge of prosecution, alleges that Lin submitted false VAT returns on two occasions. The first incident allegedly occurred on September 9, 2024, when Lin filed VAT returns claiming he had purchased goods worth shillings 20 million from Africa Asia Construction Ltd. The second instance was on November 10, 2019, when Lin is accused of filing another falsified VAT return, this time claiming to have purchased goods worth shillings 19 million from the same company. Lin denied both charges.
After the charges were read, Lin’s lawyer, David Kamukama, argued for his client to be granted bail, citing that Lin had surrendered his passport, minimizing any risk of him fleeing the country. Kamukama also assured the court that Lin had provided two sureties, whom the court deemed substantial, to ensure his compliance with court orders.
Magistrate Asiimwe granted Lin bail on a cash bond of shillings five million, while his sureties were required to sign non-cash bonds worth shillings 10 million each. The court noted that investigations were still ongoing and adjourned the case to November 8, 2024, to allow the state to conclude its inquiries.
Prosecutor Aheebwa requested additional time for the police to finalize their investigation before the next court hearing. As the proceedings wrapped up, Lin, appearing calm, left the courtroom with his colleagues after securing bail.
| Details of Allegations | Date | VAT Claims | Amount Claimed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Allegation | September 9, 2024 | Claimed purchase from Africa Asia Construction Ltd | Shs 20 million |
| Second Allegation | November 10, 2019 | Claimed purchase from Africa Asia Construction Ltd | Shs 19 million |
Lin’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 8, 2024, where further updates on the case are expected.
