Kampala, Uganda.
The Supreme Court in Kampala has granted bail to Rajiv Kumar Sabharwal, the Director of Global Wire Industries, who has been serving a four-year jail term on charges of embezzlement. Rajiv’s case has garnered significant attention, with its twists and turns keeping many on the edge of their seats.
The legal saga commenced in 2020 when Rajiv faced charges in the Anti-Corruption Court, including forgery, uttering false documents, and embezzlement of over 1 billion shillings from the company’s Diamond Trust Bank account, where he serves as the Co-Director. In 2021, he was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail, coupled with an order to compensate 556 million shillings.
Determined to challenge the charges, Rajiv appealed to the Court of Appeal, but the conviction was upheld, leaving him disheartened. Undeterred, he sought recourse in the Supreme Court, filing a bail application pending the appeal’s determination. His legal team, led by Caleb Alaka, presented compelling arguments, highlighting Rajiv’s health conditions and age (60), which make prison life challenging. A medical report detailed his severe hypersensitive heart disease and past crises, underscoring the need for bail.
The prosecution, represented by Stanley Baine, opposed the bail application, citing the finality of the conviction. After carefully considering the arguments, including the facility’s capacity to handle Rajiv’s health concerns, Justice Faith Mwondha, presiding as a Single Justice of the Supreme Court, delivered a significant verdict. She acknowledged Rajiv’s condition and expressed concern about prison conditions for someone with his medical history.
In a pivotal moment, Justice Mwondha granted Rajiv bail, ordering a cash payment of 10 million shillings and two sureties worth 10 million shillings each as a commitment to appear for trial. One of the sureties, Nicholas Kabagambe, will hand over his land title to the Supreme Court as collateral.
