http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000029746&cid=4
Court releases Ugandan tycoon on Sh6m bond
By CYRUS OMBATI
Ugandan businessman Michael Ezra Mulyoowa was Monday released on Sh6 million
bond after spending four nights in custody over fraud charges.
The prosecution, which did not object to the bail, introduced a fresh charge
against Ezra for allegedly issuing a bouncing cheque of Sh1.6 million
($20,400) on July 24, 2008 to a traditional herb company in Nairobi.
Makadara Chief Magistrate, Martin Muya, ordered Ezra to deposit a cash bail
of Sh4 million to secure his release.
His lawyer, Christopher Kenyariri, pleaded with the court to release him on
bond, arguing his client was a reliable businessman of unquestionable
character.
"My client cannot run away even though he is a Ugandan given he has property
in Karen, Gigiri and Nyari estates in Nairobi," said Kenyariri.
Date for case mention
Ezra was first arraigned in court last week and charged that on October 20,
2009, at EcoBank Towers on Muindi Mbingu Street in Nairobi, he issued a bad
cheque of Sh15.4 million ($200,000) to a local company, SMR Ltd, with the
knowledge his account had insufficient funds.
He denied both charges and the case was set for mention on March 7.
His wife Grace said she would deposit the cash immediately to secure his
release. However, by last evening, he was still in custody as his lawyer
made frantic efforts to have him released.
The warrant of arrest for the controversial sports philanthropist, who once
offered to buy English football club Leeds United, was issued last year
after he failed to attend a court hearing.
The businessman has been on the run, having failed to attend a Makadara
court on March 12, last year.
He came to the limelight when he proposed the £60 million (about Sh6
billion) bid in 2004 for the club, raising eyebrows in certain English
circles. He claimed he would spend a further £30 million on new players.
Although his bid was later rejected, Ezra was voted Man of The Year 2006 by
a Ugandan daily, beating the country's President Yoweri Museveni, who had
won the previous nine years.
Ugandan police once issued a warrant of arrest for him following his failure
to clear multiple debts and allegedly issuing two bad cheques worth USh2
billion.
However, Ezra has denied the allegations.
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