APAC: Police in Apac district have detained a 29-year-old man on allegations of masquerading as UPDF FPU officer with intention of extorting money from fishermen.
The suspect, Yusuf Matovo from Hoima district went to Kiga Landing Site in Apoi Sub County, Apac district and arrested some fishermen over illegal fishing activities. This he did on Wednesday.
But some vigilantees led by the area LCI chairman, Godfrey Ojok arrested him on Sunday.
The group first asked him to identify himself, something he failed to do.
Ojoko said that the suspect went to his area and started intimidating fishermen and arresting them on the claim that they were engaging in illegal fishing.
“He came here and impounded boats, fishing nets, fish and also started beating up people who resisted,” Ojok told the Eye Media on Monday.
He added: “when I asked for his identity card he flogged me with two strokes of cane. From there I turned aggressive and subdued him before handing him over to police at Wansolo Police Outpost.”
The arrest was confirmed by DPC, David Wills Ndaula.
Ndaula said that investigations into this case have already commenced.
“We have the suspects here at the CPS. We are working on the file and when it’s done we shall present him before court to answer the charge against him,” he said.
Mr George Abudul, the Apac RDC said that preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect was a fisherman at Atuma Landing Site in Kwania District.
“I am told his boss gave him some money to facilitate his work but he disappeared with the money so he was trying to extort from other fishermen to pay back that money,” he said.
Abudul appealed to the community to be vigilant to avoid being cheated by fraudsters who are taking advantage of the current enforcement on illegal fishing activities.
