The trial of former employees and agents of Totalenergies Limited, accused of stealing sh32 billion from the company, is set to resume on January 22, 2024, at the Nakasero Anti-Corruption Court. Justice Lawrence Gidudu, the head of the court, had previously scheduled the trial to allow for additional witnesses to provide evidence.
In a previous session, the defense, led by MacDosman Kabega, opposed the testimony of Francis Xavier Amuka, a fraud analyst from Absa Bank, arguing that he was not initially listed as a witness. Justice Gidudu advised Chief State Attorney Gloria Inzikuru to formally apply to the court for Amuka’s inclusion as a witness.
The former employees facing charges of theft from the company are Moses Sebalu (treasury officer), Belinda Nakasi (tax accountant), Priscillah Nansikombi (cashier), Lillian Mboizi (treasury manager), and Ritah Mbabazi (payment assistant). They are joined by contracted agents of Total Energies: Hemal Kotecha, Innocent Tugume, Deogratius Twagirayesu, Joseph Bbuye, and Evelyn Kaggwa. All the accused parties have denied the charges, and the burden to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt lies with the prosecution.
The prosecution alleges that the former employees, between January 2016 and December 2018, collaborated with the contracted agents to steal goods worth sh32 billion. The accused are accused of establishing a fraudulent scheme allowing dealers to order fuel and lubricants based on manipulated credit, which would be posted on their accounts. The prosecution claims that fictitious payments were created, with Lillian Mboizi allegedly executing these illegal transactions by posting fraudulent bank statements into the system.
The fraud is said to have occurred at various branches of the company, including Ben Kiwanuka, Kyaliwajjala, Kabuusu, Nakulabye, Luzira, Seeta Highway, Misindye, Mukono-Kawuga, Kwev Auto, and New Oasis service stations. To date, four witnesses have testified in the ongoing case.
