Uganda Police Inspector General Kale Kayihura’s brother-in-law Emma Ngonga is among the gang that was arrested after being suspected of orchestrating the theft of Shs530 million from Finance Trust Bank.
In what has been dubbed the biggest ever crackdown of financial hackers in Uganda, the thieves carried out the cybercrime arrangement on the Christmas day and made away with their heist but were two days later arrested and charged by Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) in charge Serious Crimes, William Wilber Kototyo.
As reported by The Investigator, Gen. Kayihura’s in-law Emma Ngonga, the Bank Manager of the Sure House based Finance Trust Bank branch is reported to have committed the crime with Livingstone Lutalo, the IT Administrator and Francis Turyahweerwa, a supervisor at the Katwe-premised Finance Trust Bank. Recorded vide police file number SD28/27/12/2016, the case was first reported at Katwe Police Station.
The three suspects allegedly made nearly over 160 online banking accounts through which they electronically transferred the money vide mobile sets on Christmas day – when most account owners are away in the villages.
They were caught after one of the customers received the withdraw message when he was away in Kisoro.
The Finance Trust Bank CEO, Ms. Annet Mulindwa Nakawunde confirmed the ugly incident at her Bank, which occurred on the Christmas day. The communications officer Percy Paul Lubega said they were still investigating to get the actual figure lost because it is believed to be more than reported. “But it’s our wish that you wait for the investigators’ report before you write the story,” he said.
The silence around the investigation appears motivated in part by the reluctance of the bank to concede that their systems were so easily penetrated, and in part by the fact that the attacks appear to be continuing.
Details on the file indicate that the suspects used a cyber software to create over 160 online banking accounts through which they electronically transferred the money vide mobile sets on Christmas. It is a sophisticated style of crime which was committed by the suspects when all were in different areas where they had gone for the holidays.
The Investigator goes ahead to report that it is upon the suspects’ arrest that General Kayihura was alerted and reportedly ordered for his in-law’s immediate release. The detective sources privy with the case intimated that the orders were instantly implemented since they were delivered verbally by another IGP’s trusted Cop, also a relative. Contacted the young man, an ASP, confirmed his presence at Katwe but denied the allegation he was there to deliver the IGP’s orders.
Days later, SCP Kototyo rearrested the suspects before he reportedly confiscated their valuables for bond purposes and in a bid to recover the stolen dimes that allegedly pitted against his boss IGP Kayihura.
The investigations continue.
