[UAH] Standard Digital News - Kenya : Ugandan tycoon Michael Ezra Mulyoowa charged in Nairobi

Qhttp://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000084368&story_title=ugandan-tycoon-charged-in-nairobi

By Isaiah Lucheli

NAIROBI, KENYA: A Ugandan tycoon who gained International media attention when he once bid over Sh 7 billion for English Premiership club Leeds United has been charged at the Makadara Court.

Michael Ezra Mulyoowa has been accused of falsely obtaining credit and issuing a bad cheque worth over Sh 16,000 million to SMR Limited based at industrial area.

The Ugandan represented by Eric Mutua is facing two charges and according to the charge sheet the first count states that on diverse dates between June 2009 and October 2009 at Industrial area in Nairobi he obtained credit of over Sh 6 million from the company by falsely pretending that he would pay back.

The second count states that on October 20 2009 at Eco bank towers along Muindi Mbingu Street in Nairobi, he drew a cheque number 085728 for a similar amount in favour of the company with the knowledge that his account had insufficient funds.

When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, the magistrate handling the case disqualified himself on the grounds that he was handling another case facing the businessman.

Senior Principal Magistrate Thomas Okelo said he had recused himself from handling the case facing the Ugandan following an application by the complainant.

Okelo told the court that the matter would be heard before another magistrate but explained that he had decided to withdraw from the case in order for justice to be seen to have been done.

“The complainant filed an application seeking for my recusal and it is important that justice should not only be done but should also be seen to have been done. It is in this view that the matter should be handled by another court,” said Okelo.

The magistrate took a swipe at the defence for delaying the case and issued a stern warning to the prosecution that the case had taken a long time and witnesses should be bonded to attend court and testify.

“Any attempts to derail the case should be discouraged. This is an old case that needs to be resolved,” he said.