By Spy Uganda
Businessman Mukesh Shukla Babubhai is set to cough Ugx12m after court convicted him of fraud on six counts of uttering a false document with an intention of illegally seizing Hotel Diplomate Muyenga.
The ruling on this matter was delivered Monday evening at Buganda Road Magistrate Court by magistrate Marion Mangeni who observed that there was enough evidence pinning Mukesh who is said to have uttered a false document in form of a letter showing that he legally took over Hotel Diplomate Muyenga from former Consular of Uganda to Pakistan late Bonny Katatumba, and his other family members who include;
Annie Grace Katatumba, Angella Katatumba, Ian Katatumba, Bonny Katatumba and Rugirwa Katatumba.
Mukesh’s false letter with a signature of George William Kalyegira, the officer-in-charge of then chief justice Bart Katureebe’s security detail is said to have been uttered on April 17, 2015, and November 2017 indicating that the Katatumba family had authorized him to take over Hotel Diplomate.
Court heard that the prosecution proved beyond any reasonable doubt with evidence from their seven witnesses, that Mukesh had committed the said crimes against him which he had denied previously.
Meanwhile, after being found guilty, the prosecution led by Ivan Kyazze asked the court to hand Mukesh a custodial sentence, saying cases of this nature have been rampant in the country, especially in the jurisdiction of Buganda Road court.
On his part, Mukesh asked to be given a lenient sentence, saying he is an old man with a family to look after and that a caution would be an appropriate sentence for him as opposed to going to jail. He told court that he’s a boss to many people and sending him to jail might affect the welfare of his employees.
After all the above, magistrate Mangeni fined Mukesh Ugx2 million on each of the six counts which totals Ugx12m, or face a jail sentence of 2 years.
Katatumba children led by Angella Katatumba welcomed the Court decision and said the next step is now to get back Katatamba Suites (currently known as Shumuk House). They say Mukesh is now being demanded over $14 million in rent arrears on these premises.
