Criminal summons against Businessman Bitature withdrawn
Drake Nyamugabwa
Court has withdrawn criminal summons against businessman Patrick Bitature and his wife Carol Nzaro that required them to appear and answer criminal charges related to the $26 million commercial dispute with South African money lender Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership until investigations are complete.
Joan Keko, the Chief State Attorney has asked the Chief Magistrates Court at Buganda Road, presided over by Ronald Kayiizi to withdraw the criminal summons pending investigations.
“The criminal summons were issued before the DPP took over and therefore they collapsed that is why we never applied for the extension of summons. We pray those criminal summonses are vacated until investigations are complete,” Ms Keko submitted.
She explained that a letter had been sent to the police to initiate investigations after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) took over the case.
Court heard that a letter was written to police requesting them to start investigating the matter after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) took over, however, later documents were received from the private prosecutor Robert Kirunda as per the previous court’s directive.
The matter is now adjourned to April 3, 2024, when the state will update court on the investigations
Agreeing with the state’s request, Mr. Kayiizi ordered the vacation of the criminal summonses.
He stated, “Since the DPP, who took over the matter, has applied for the vacation of the criminal summonses pending investigations, the criminal summonses are hereby vacated. The case is adjourned to April 3, when the state will update the court on the investigations.”
Further updates are expected after investigations are concluded, highlighting the complexity of legal matters surrounding commercial disputes and the intricacies of international financial transactions.
