The High Court Anti-Corruption division on Tuesday January 17th 2023 dismissed a petition by three Alebtong district officials who were convicted and sentenced to 30 months in prison of abuse of office.
The convicts who include James Aula the former principal assistant secretary, Alex Ojom the district internal auditor and Dellion Okello the assistant records officer petitioned the High Court to quash the earlier sentence. The sentence was passed by the Magistrate Grade One, and the convicts claim it was harsh and that the presiding Magistrate did not evaluate the evidence presented by the prosecution properly.
However, the presiding Judge Lawrence Gidudu dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and upheld the conviction and sentence from the lower court. He also explained that a two and a half year sentence is very lenient since the maximum sentence for abuse of office is seven years imprisonment.
“There was sufficient and abundant straightforward evidence to convict the district officials on charges of abuse of office…” part of the ruling states.
In addition to the two and a half years sentence, the convicts have also been barred from holding public offices for a period of 10 years.
They were however advised by the presiding Judge on their freedom to appeal to the higher court in case they are not satisfied with the court ruling.