Police has arrested five men who are suspected to have been disguising themselves as police officers at several police stations and extorting money from complainants as well as suspects whom they promised to secure bond for.
One of the suspects was identified as Rogers Habasa, 34 who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly obtaining Shs 5 million from unsuspecting suspects of aggravated robbery.
According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Police recovered Shs 4 million from Habasa which he had told the suspect he would share with people who were going to help release him (suspect) from custody.
The other suspected impersonator, Oswald Oketch currently detained at Ntinda Police station was arrested for obtaining money from the relatives of suspects in custody. Oketch is said to have acquired Shs 500,000 under false pretence but Police only managed to recover Shs 400,000 from him.
The others who are in custody for similar offences include Ivan Turinawe, Eddy Atwine a Crime Preventer and Ambrose Obura, a resident of Kisugu.
Eddy Atwine, 25 is said to have obtained money amounting to Shs 300,000 from Ntinda police station where he is currently being detained.
Obura, 35, disguised as a police detective attached to Kiira Police station and extorted Shs 100,000 from Derrick Naluswa a complainant who had gone to police to report a case. Obura had promised Naluswa that he would track his lost phone. He is also being detained at Ntinda Police Station.
The DPC Kiira Road police station, ASP Peace Nansaba said that they acted upon receiving reports about the said group two weeks back. An undercover operative was then planted around the station.
The group pitch camp at police stations and identify vulnerable people (complainants and suspects) whom they lure to believe that they can mediate between OC CID or DPC for the release of a relative or friend on bond.
Later, the unsuspecting people confront the officers for having received money and failing to satisfy their needs only to realise they have been duped.
The thugs are said to have extorted money amounting to Shs 15 million through this tactic between the month of October and December. However, only Shs 4.4 million has so far been recovered. Police netted the culprits as they turned up to collect the remaining balance of payments from victims.
“Police bond is absolutely free and everyone’s right. Anyone following up on any case should directly approach and contact the officers in charge of respective offices than putting trust in middle men who are always waiting in corridors for which victim to prey on,” ASP Nansaba Peace said.
