Three people who were trying to bribe a magistrate so as to release a suspect accused of exam malpractice have been arrested.
The trio was arrested at the Mityana grade one magistrates court premises for allegedly paying a bribe to an unknown person so as to pass the same onto the magistrate so as to release their relative who had been arraigned in court over exam malpractice.
They had come to stand surety for their relative.
“While leaving court after remanding the accused, the magistrate overheard the sureties claim they had paid her a bribe and yet she had refused to grant bail to the accused. The magistrate immediately ordered for their arrest,” UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule Musamba said.
WHERE IT STARTED
According to the UNEB spokesperson, the matter arose after three teachers including Thomas Onyoto of Hillside Kalonga S.S, David Ssekiranda and Livingstone Kambugu of Bujjubi S.S in Mityana were arrested during the Chemistry practical paper for the new UCE curriculum examinations .
“The trio was allegedly found by a UNEB scout with a copy of the examination paper inside the laboratory where preparations for the Chemistry practical were underway,” Kalule said.
She explained that on appearing in court, Onyoto and Sekiranda were denied bail for lack of sureties while sureties for Kambugu needed to be verified.
The UNEB spokesperson said it was after the magistrate had denied bail to Kambugu that his sureties were heard complaining that despite paying a bribe to have their relative released, it had not come to pass.
The magistrate ordered for their arrest.
“They are expected to appear before the same court today, Monday to answer charges of bribery,” Kalule said.
