Uganda wants Mike Ezra extradited

Tuesday, 22nd February, 2011	E-mail article   Print article
Ezra waiting for the hearing of his bail application at Makadara Court in Kenya on Monday. Uganda has asked for his extradition over fraud charges By Herbert Ssempogo UGANDA is to ask for the extradition of embattled Kampala businessman Michael Ezra Mulyowa to Uganda. Ezra was last week arrested in Kenya for issuing a false cheque of Ksh4m (about sh116m) to a Kenyan company. The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, yesterday reportedly chaired a meeting at which the extradition of Ezra was discussed. A source said the Attorney General would liaise with his Kenyan counterpart to lodge a request to the High Court of Kenya so that Ezra is handed over to Ugandan authorities. Yesterday, the Uganda Police had reportedly started preparing documents to be sent to Kenya. Reports from Nairobi yesterday said although court had on Monday granted Ezra a Ksh4m bail (about sh116m), he remained in custody due to his failure to pay the money. Last week, Ezra was charged before a Kenyan court with issuing a false cheque of $200,000 (about sh600m) to a Kenyan business firm. He also faces another charge of failing to pay a Chinese doctor, Dr. Pan Lianxue, $15,000 (about sh40m) after getting drugs from him on April 16, 2009, according to Kenyan media reports. Ezra allegedly issued Lianxue a cheque, which was not honoured. The Kenyan media quoted the chief inspector, Michael Mukui, as telling court on Monday that they received information implicating Ezra in treasonable activities in Uganda. But his lawyer, Christopher Kenyariri, objected, saying there was no evidence to prove the allegations. Ezra is also wanted by the Uganda Police in connection with a string of cases. At least three of them are before court. In one case, the complainant, Geoffrey Kiryowa of Mittco International, said two years ago, he asked Ezra for a loan. Ezra reportedly asked for a “facilitation fee”, which Kiryowa gave him. But Ezra reportedly never secured the loan or refunded the money he got from Kiryowa. Ezra on June 30, 2009, allegedly issued Kiryowa a Kenya Commercial Bank cheque of $123,000, which bounced because he lacked sufficient funds on his account. Under the Uganda Penal Code, any person found guilty of issuing false cheques is liable to a fine not exceeding double the amount presented on the cheque, five years imprisonment or both. Ezra is also wanted in Uganda over charges relating to tax evasion.