"I don't want to hear about the law but I just want to hear about my money", says, an Indian businessman as he tells police in Arua City to detain a man, Asea Patrick for one week over debt.

📸: Asea Patrick who has been unlawful detained in police custody in Arua City.

The police in Arua City have put in custody, a suspect in the names of Asea Patrick from Onduparaka, Ayivu Division for one week now over a debt.

Mr Asea, first arrested and detained in Onduparaka police station on Monday 6-May-2024 and later transferred to Central Division Arua City CPS on Wednesday 8-May-2024 under file number 28/8/5/2024, the complainant (an Indian businessman) selling Wines and bottled water at KKT Plaza room number C103 claims, Mr Asea Patrick sold away wines and failed to account for the money amounting to 6,500,000 Shs.

Speaking to Asea Patrick while in police custody at Arua City CPS, he said, he sold some wines to a Congolese businessman who took them on credit at the tune of around 2m Shs but he has failed to bring the credit.

Asea noted that, when his boss (the Indian businessman) became annoyed over the issue, he was relieved from his duty of salesman at the shop and tasked to go and look for the Congolese businessman who took the wines on credit.

"I went to the LC1 of my village to pick a letter to travel to Congo to look for that debtor but all in vain. When I returned back to Arua City, Uganda, I was arrested from my home at night by the police from Onduparaka police station, Ayivu West Constituency", Asea stated as he dismisses the figure (6.5m shs) alleged by his Indian boss as false.

During a communication with the Indian Businessman, he said, He doesn't want to hear about the law bust just wants his money to be produce cash or else the suspect (Asea Patrick) will never be released.

Having stayed in detention beyond the constitutional 48 hours, efforts to secure his release on Police bond on Saturday 11-May-2024 were futile after the Indian businessman stormed Arua City police station together with his main boss, protesting the release of Asea Patrick, saying, unless he clears the 6.5m Shs debt, he would not be released.

When the officers tried to explain the law of Uganda to the complainants, they instead degenerated into quarrels and insisted, they can't allow the suspect to be released on bond except their money is brought cash at hand.

Despite substantial sureties, a Journalist and close family members been presented to stand for him, the complainants (Indians) who were whisperingly alleging they would call the RPC for WestNile region to intervene in the case, went outside of the police station to make phone calls to some "unknown" people, few hours later, the surety (ies) were told by the officers at the police station that, their Supervisors (Bosses) have called them over the matter, saying, the Indians went to complain there, claiming the suspect is elusive and he may run away after he is released on police bond.

When we tried to call the RPC for WestNile region, ACP Sserunjogi Eddie on Sunday 12-May-2024 for a comment over the case, he declined to speak, saying, he was away for an official duty in Maracha District to supervise verification of police constables that are being recruited.

He instead said, we should speak to Deputy RCC for Central Division Arua City Mr Ezama Ham Mizamil over that case since he is incharge of the security in Central Division Arua City.

Stay tuned here as #Information_is_Power shall closely be following the case.

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