State minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu has asked the Anti Corruption Court to stay the ongoing proceedings against her in relation to the misappropriated Karamoja Iron Sheets until the Constitutional Court makes an interpretation on the validity of the charge levelled against her.
Through her lawyers led by Caleb Alaka, Nandutu wants the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the charges of dealing with suspected stolen 2000 property preferred against her are legal or valid.
According to minister Nandutu, it is unfair and unconstitutional for a person to go through a trial when a provision of law in which she or he is charged is vague .
They made their submissions before justice Jane Kajuga Okuo this morning as her case came up for hearing.In her petition, Nandutu claimed that the charge of dealing with suspect property is not well defined as demanded by the constitution.
She is asking the Constitutional court to issue an injunction restraining the Director of Public Prosecutions from prosecuting her until her petition is heard and determined.
Prosecution states that Nandutu, between June and July 2022, at the Office of the Prime Minister’s store in Namanve, and in Kkoka cell, Bulwanyi parish Mukono district, dealt with government property (2,000 pre-painted iron sheets of gauge 28 marked “Office of the Prime Minister”.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) also contends that by receiving and holding the said iron sheets, Nandutu had a reason to believe that they were acquired because of loss of public property, an offence under Section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2009 as amended.
The DPP will make her reply on her application before the Anti Corruption Court.
