A Portuguese citizen who previously pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and was fined sh30 million is set to appear in a Ugandan court today, March 27, to address outstanding issues related to the compensation.
Carlos Alberto De Almeida E Costa, represented by legal counsel Daniel Anguallia, entered into an agreement with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and admitted guilt for the aforementioned charges. Based on his plea, he was convicted by the Nakasero-based International Crimes Division of the High Court, under the jurisdiction of Justice Andrew Bashaija, who imposed the fine as part of the sentencing.
The court had ordered Carlos to pay compensation to the victim, but as of his appearance on Tuesday last week, March 21, Senior State Attorney Marion Ben Bella informed the court that the convicted individual had not fulfilled this obligation. Consequently, Ben Bella requested further remand for Carlos until he satisfies the terms of his release.
Carlos’s lawyer, however, sought an extension until March 27 to allow time for securing the necessary funds. Thus, the court granted this request, scheduling a follow-up hearing for the specified date to assess the progress of the payment.
In the event of Carlos’s failure to comply with the court’s order, additional measures may be considered by the court. The outcome of Wednesday’s hearing will likely determine the next steps in resolving the matter.
The case against Carlos stems from incidents that occurred between April and May 2020 in Busibante village, Kira division, Wakiso district, where he was accused of exploiting a minor by leveraging his authority or position to gain her consent through financial means for sexual purposes.
