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By Godfrey Olukya 13-9-2012
Four Bulgarian nationals recently arrested in Uganda as they attempted to defraud Stanbic Bank using fake Automated Teller Machine cards have been charged and remanded.
Ivan Ganchev, Milen Katsarski, Adrian Dimitrov and Anton Ivanov have been remanded to Luzira maximum prison located in the outskirts of Kampala city.
They claim to be businessmen but security agencies in Uganda said they are thieves who travel in different African countries defrauding banks while using fake ATM cards. Police said that the same men had ever been arrested in Kenya over similar offences but jumped bail.
They appeared before grade one court magistrate, Julius Borore who remanded them to Luzira prison. Although one of them informed court that he did not understand English, the other three pleaded not guilty.
The magistrate adjourned the case until 17th of September, 2012. He said on that day they will be free to apply for court bail
The 4 men were charged with 30 counts of forgery. According to prosecution , on 30th August this year while in Kampala, the four tried to defraud over 30 Stanbic bank customers through the use of fake ATM cards at one of the bank’s branches in the sub-urb of Kampala.
Many Ugandans are surprised that white people, whom they regard to be more civilized and well off have started coming to steal in Africa.
‘ I am shocked that Europeans are coming to rob us once again after doing so during colonial days. Shame upon them.’ said Hebert Kato, a businessman in Kampala.
END.