The Court of Appeal of Uganda has today, 20th March 2025, upheld the murder conviction of Nagayi Faridah, also known as Mariam, in connection with the 2018 poisoning of her Finnish boyfriend, Terasvouri Thomas Juha Petteri.
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The decision reaffirms the judgement of the High Court, which found her guilty of maliciously administering a lethal cocktail of toxic substances to the deceased.
According to court records, Faridah lured Petteri into Uganda under the guise of a business trip. He arrived at Entebbe International Airport on February 5, 2018, accompanied by Suvi Alindi, a former communications officer at Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon arrival, Faridah and her associates took Petteri to Uganda’s Internal Security Organization (ISO) offices for questioning over suspicions that his invitation letter was fraudulent. After his release, he checked into the pearl of Africa Hotel with Faridah.
Tragedy struck that night. Faridah and her co-accused reportedly left the hotel under the pretext of purchasing medication for Petteri. The following morning, she alerted hotel staff that he was unwell. When the hotel nurse arrived, Petteri was discovered dead. A subsequent autopsy confirmed that he had ingested a fatal mixture of drugs, pesticides, insecticides, and acaricides.
Faridah was arrested and charged with murder under Sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act, later revised under Sections 171 and 172 of the Revised Penal Code Act. The High Court, finding compelling evidence of her involvement, sentenced her to 30 years in prison.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Faridah appealed on seven grounds, contesting both her conviction and sentence. However, in a judgment delivered today by a panel of justices—Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, Justice Eva Luswata, and Justice Oscar Kihika—the Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal against conviction. “We are convinced, as the trial judge was, that the Appellant somehow procured the drugs and pesticides that were found in the deceased’s body,” the justices affirmed.
While the conviction was upheld, the appellate court adjusted Faridah’s sentence, citing Article 23(8) of the Ugandan Constitution, which mandates the deduction of pre-trial detention periods from final sentences. Her pre-trial detention timeline was somewhat unclear, as her initial arrest by ISO was not precisely dated. However, official records confirmed her formal remand began on October 14, 2019. After securing bail on November 30, 2021, it was revoked on June 6, 2022, the day of her conviction.
Taking into account her total remand period—approximately two years, eight months, and eight days—the court reduced her sentence to 27 years, 3 months, and 22 days, effective from the date of her conviction.
The judgement underscores Uganda’s commitment to enforcing justice in cases involving foreign nationals, sending a strong message about the gravity of premeditated crimes. While Faridah may still explore further legal avenues, today’s verdict solidifies the thoroughness of Uganda’s judicial and prosecutorial processes in handling complex, high-profile cases with international implications.
This case highlights the indispensable role of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in the administrat”on of criminal justice. As the lead prosecutorial agency, the DPP’s office played a pivotal role in guiding the investigators in the Uganda Police Force in gathering evidence, preparing the case, and ensuring a thorough and fair trial. The successful conviction and subsequent defence of the verdict on appeal demonstrate the effectiveness of diligent prosecutorial work in securing justice for crime victims.
Prosecutors in the DPP’s office meticulously pieced together the evidence against Faridah, demonstrating her involvement in procuring the toxic substances that led to Petteri’s death. Their ability to present a compelling case before both the High Court and the Court of Appeal underlines the vitality of a well-executed prosecutorial exercise.
The appeal was prosecuted by Carolyne Nabaasa Hope, Principal Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, and Timothy Amerit, Senior State Attorney in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Their efforts in defending the conviction and ensuring that justice was upheld further underscore the importance of skilled and dedicated prosecutorial work in criminal proceedings.
Furthermore, this case affirms the state’s commitment to prosecuting crimes involving foreign nationals, proving that justice is served irrespective of nationality or status.
Ultimately, the prosecution’s success in this case exemplifies the critical role of the DPP’s office in maintaining law and order, deterring crime, and safeguarding the integrity of Uganda’s legal framework.
