Sandra Ainebyoona.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court has sentenced Solomon Njoki, a businessman, to three years and six months in prison for committing 13 counts of electronic fraud, forgery, and personation on social media, with the aim of defrauding several individuals. The trial magistrate, Caroline Kyoshabire, found Njoki guilty of creating Facebook and Twitter accounts in the name of Vice President Ms. Jessica Alupo, through which he sent deceitful messages to victims, urging them to send money to a specified telephone number.
During the proceedings, Njoki claimed that he attempted reconciliation and compensation for his victims. However, the court ruled that his plea of not guilty and lack of remorse throughout the trial were not in his favor. The magistrate emphasized the prevalence of electronic fraud, personation, and forging of false documents, calling for stringent sentences to serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.
Magistrate Kyoshabire noted the seriousness of Njoki’s offense in impersonating a high-ranking government official and forging a national identification card. Count five of electronic fraud allows for a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison or a fine not exceeding three hundred and sixty currency points, or both. The court decided that a fine would not suffice as a deterrent, leading to the decision to sentence Njoki to 42 months in prison.
Prosecution, represented by Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) lawyer, Mr. Kenneth Lenox Sseguya, urged the court to impose a stringent sentence to send a clear message to potential fraudsters. The verdict seeks to protect individuals from falling victim to online scams and underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of digital communication platforms.
Njoki’s lack of a prior criminal record and his responsibility as a parent were taken into consideration during sentencing. However, the court deemed the gravity of the offenses and the need to discourage similar acts as paramount.
