By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
Police has busted a criminal gang that has been stealing number plates from the Indian business community and then asking for money.
In a statement released today, 13th July, 2022, the Kiira region Police Spokesperson, ASP Mubi James said the four were tracked down to Tororo district and arrested.
Those arrested are Simon Olowo and Alex Macho, residents of Tororo district and a retired ICT secondary teacher called George Ogutti, 62, who has been at the strategic level of planning for the group.
Ogutti has been responsible for drafting 10 year plan for stealing motor vehicle number plates. He has also been behind typing and printing the threatening letters or leaflets that they leave behind after stealing number plates from residential homes, parking places and factories.
The fourth suspect is Stephen Mugabe who has been keeping the stolen number plates.
“We managed to recover two number plates from banana plantation along Gabula road in Jinja city. UBE 518B and UBL 287G.” Mubi said.
The criminal gang has been targeting mainly the Indian business communities of Jinja city, Jinja district, Iganga, Namutumba and Tororo district – Busoga sub region and Eastern corridor generally.
The criminal gang, after stealing number plates, were asking for money to be sent via mobile money on 0771491993 and 0703932528. We have since established that the above telephone numbers belonged to a one Hussein Kato who died sometime back.
“Through our experts, we tracked down the culprits successfully and arrested the ring leaders of the criminal gang,” Mubi said.
Mubi also revealed that police searched the premises of the retired teacher and exhibited laptop, monitor, printer, and documents that he has been using.
“The Operation is still ongoing to arrest more culprits and recover more stolen number plates.” The statement reads in part.
