Former Uganda Airlines boss Cornwell Muleya has been acquitted by Court.
Mr Muleya had been accused of disobeying IGG’sorders to appear before their office and make a statement over corruption-related charges that they were investigating against him.
However, on Monday presiding Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Asuman Muhumuza acquitted Mr Muleya on grounds that non-appearance at the IGG’s office was excusable.
Mr Muhumuza ruled that the explanation offered by Mr Muleya was just.
The court noted that Mr. Muleya had presented his passport and airline tickets as evidence that he had left for South Africa on June 7 and returned on June 11, and that the next day, he had left for Dubai and returned on June 14.
“I am surprised that the IGG did not find the same explanation compelling upon the arrest of the accused. I find that the accused failure to appear for the summons is not defiance as the prosecutor had put it but it was a just reasonable excuse. For those reasons, the accused person is not found guilty and is acquitted,” Mr Muhumuza ruled.
Court went on and faulted Mr Muleya for not communicating his illness to his lawyers and the person he was in contact with at the IGG’s office when he returned from South Africa.
However, Mr Muhumuza said his failure to communicate does not constitute a criminal offence nor warrants criminal prosecution.
