KAMPALA, Uganda — Two men were remanded to Luzira Maximum Security Prison on Wednesday on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to commit a felony.
James Mugisha and Godfrey Maviri allegedly swindled a Korean national, Hyun UK Kim, out of $300,000 by falsely claiming they were selling 53 kilograms of gold.
According to court records, Mugisha and Maviri, along with other suspects still at large, committed the crimes between August and November 2021 at the offices of NSB Advocates in Kampala.
The prosecution, led by State Attorney Mercy Yamangusho Khaidarah, stated that inquiries were complete, but requested a mention date to facilitate the arrest of other suspects. Mugisha and Maviri pleaded not guilty to the charges.
This case bears some resemblance to another gold scam involving a Korean investor. City Lawyer David Balondemu was accused of defrauding Hyun UK Kim of $1.5 million, but was granted bail after the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence.
The case has raised questions about the involvement of law firms in Kampala in gold scams.
Some firms have been accused of colluding with suspects, but maintain they only provide legal services to clients and deny any wrongdoing.
