Five employees of a Labour Export company Nile Treasure Gate Ltd, have been committed to the International Crimes Division of the High Court to be tried on charges of trafficking a one Judith Nakintu to Saudi Arabia for body organs transplant.
The group including 2 directors; Abubaker Sulaiman Kato and Muhammad Mariam, a board member Salmah Muhammad, an agent Ali Hassan and a supervisor of Nile Treasure Gate company Jennifer Nalunga; has been sent to High Court for trial upon the directive of the Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo.
The group which has been on remand since the beginning of this year, is charged jointly with their company Nile Treasure Gate Ltd.
It is alleged that the accused used deceitful means to recruit, send and confine Nakintu to Saudi Arabia for purposes of removing her kidney .
According the committal papers presented before Nakawa Court Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza, the DPP states that she is armed with strong evidence to convict the suspects who have since caused Nakintu a life threatening illness.
The evidence DPP plans to bring indicates that Nakintu was recruited as a domestic worker in December 2019 through a syndicated module by Nile Treasure Gates company and the recipient firm in Saudi Arabia .
That she was made to go through a pre- flight medical examination test to ensure that she was a match to the reciepient /beneficiary.
Further evidence shows that upon reaching Saudi Arabia and after working for only 2 months , she was taken by her boss to hospital allegedly for a Covid19 test but upon waking up , she was stuck on the bed , paralysed and had a deep cut wound on her stomach.
That after she was then repatriated back in the country on 30th/October 2021following pressure from her relatives and upon a check- up at Mulago National Referral hospital , it was established that her right kidney was missing .
Further evidence shows that the suspects tried to cover up their wrong doings by attempting to pay Nakintu and her family 30 million shillings, which they refused .
That the company invented a story that Nakintu was involved in a motor accident while in Saudi Arabia leading to the removal of her kidney whereas not .
The DPP says that will rely mostly on documentary evidence of medical forms from Mulango hospital and other hospitals in Saudi Arabia to prove her case against the suspects .
The suspects pleaded not guilty to counts related to aggravated trafficking in persons offending section 3 of the Prevention of Trafficking in persons Act( 2009), while Nile Treasure Gates’ company has since had its operating licence invoked.
The suspects have been sent back on remand until they will be called by the International Crimes Division court in Kololo for trial to commence.
Reporter: Betty Zziwa
