The Supreme Court has ordered jailed former Principal Accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Geoffrey Kazinda to file a response to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s application seeking a stay of execution of the Constitutional Court Judgement that halted his prosecution before the Anti-Corruption court.
The order by Justice Rubby Opio Aweri follows an appeal filed by the DPP Jane Frances Abodo seeking to overturn the August 2020 Constitutional Court decision on grounds that the said court erred in law when it found that the successive prosecution of Kazinda amounted to double jeopardy.
This, according to the court, meant that the numerous trials Kazinda is facing for offences similar in character amounts to a deprivation of the right to a fair hearing as enshrined in Article 28 of the Constitution.
However, today a team of Lawyers from the DPP’s Office have appeared before the Supreme Court led by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Jackie Okwi to ensure that they obtain an order staying the Constitutional Court decision so that further prosecution of Kazinda can continue in the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.
Kazinda who was present in court wanted to be allowed to file written submissions because he is in prison; but the Attorney General’s representative Richard Adrole objected and presiding Judge Opio Aweri gave Kazinda upto 12th October, 2020 to have filed his response; and the oral arguments by both parties will be made before the Supreme Court on 13th October, 2020.
Currently Kazinda is awaiting judgement on 6th November, 2020 in a case of illicit enrichment being prosecuted by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
He has already served 5 years imprisonment for forging then Permanent Secretary – OPM Pius Bigirimana’s Signature.
