Fingerprint evidence links jailed socialite Sipapa to robbery scene

A major breakthrough was made in the case of socialite Charles Olimu, alias Sipapa, and his wife, Shamira Nakiyemba, accused of aggravated robbery and money laundering, on Tuesday, when a state witness linked the couple to the crime scene with fingerprint evidence.
Mr. Pius Chanimong, 60, a fingerprint expert and retired civil servant attached to the directorate of forensic services under the criminal identification department, which he heads, was testifying as the fifth prosecution witness.

In his examination-in-chief, headed by Senior State Solicitor Edward Muhumuz, Mr Chanimong disclosed that the investigation team had accessed the exhibits to analyze and compare finger and footprints and that the exhibits examined included money and four envelopes from the scene of the crime. .

“After the results and analysis, I did a blind pass and passed the file on to the next person without giving my findings to avoid repetition. On Friday, I told Deputy Superintendent Godfrey that I had written to him about my findings and asked him to do the same,” Mr Chanimong testified.
Adding… “After learning that we had the same findings, I went ahead and prepared a report based on the general examination of fingerprints, concluding that the suspects’ fingerprints were found on various items.”

The court also heard that all eight fingerprints of the victims in the envelope found at the scene were negative, except for the suspect, Olimu.
When asked why he based his analysis on Olimu’s left middle fingerprint, Mr Chanimong told the court that it was the only fingerprint visible from the others.
The trial judge, Michael Elubu, adjourned the case to November 12 for further hearing of prosecution witnesses.

prosecution case
Businessman Sipapa, a supporter of gold, cars and musicians, and designer Nakiyemba and others are alleged to have committed money laundering offenses on the night of August 29, 2022, in Bunga Kawuku, Makindye Division.
The prosecution also alleged that the duo robbed Mul and Mary Ateng of US$429,000 (about Shs1.6 billion), two mobile phones, an iPhone, a 75-inch Samsung flat-screen TV, an Apple MacBook, among others, immediately before or after use. He claims he did. Arok has a substance that renders them unconscious.

On charges of money laundering, the prosecution states that the duo placed orders for musical instruments, purchased a jeep wrangler, jeep Cherokee, Audi, Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Samsung in an attempt to hide or conceal Olimu’s illicit source of more than Shs7.5 billion. An 85-inch TV, a motorcycle, the rear bumper of a Jeep, a tailgate, four motor vehicle holes, ten drilling equipment, two amplifiers, two suspects resembling gold bars and others have reason to believe that the properties in question are proceeds of crime.

Among the evidence relied on by the prosecution to accuse the couple: Search warrant containing evidence seized from their residence, police form showing peeled skin and police form indicating Mayendit was sleepy and mentally unstable, land sale agreement regarding the victims and others.
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