Shamim Chebet, the Parish Chief of Kongowo parish in Kapchorwa district, has been arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kapchorwa on August 13, 2024, on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The official was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
A source revealed that the accused conspired to illegally solicit and collect substantial sums of money from numerous beneficiaries of the Kongowo Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO.
Preliminary information indicates that the incident reportedly occurred between August 2023 and January 2024, where the accused demanded payments as a condition for beneficiaries to access PDM funds.
The illegality was done alongside the Local Council II chairperson of Kongowo and the chairperson of the Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (SACCO), who are still being investigated.
The court has remanded Chebet until August 22, 2024, as investigations continue into the actions of the other suspects involved in the alleged fraud.
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding corruption and mismanagement of funds intended for community development, emphasizing the need for accountability among public officials.
