The Principal Assistant Secretary in the East African Community Affairs Ministry James Ocen Okuja, has appeared before Alex Mushabe Korecho, the Lira Chief Magistrate on two counts of torture contrary to section 24 of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2012.
Ocen is accused of torturing and inflicting serious injuries on 31-year-old Paul Ocen, a UPDF soldier attached to the 63 Infantry Battalion Headquarters at Palaro Barracks in Gulu and Lameck Owong, a resident of Acengryeny in Dokolo district.
Prosecution led by Washua Bengu, the State Prosecutor alleges that Ocen tortured the duo when they went to celebrate International Labor Day at his Dokolo hotel. According to Bengu, the two were part of several revelers who were rounded up by Ocen and others still at large on allegations of trespass and vandalizing hotel property.
Prosecution further alleges that after rounding up their victims, Ocen and his accomplices tied them with ropes and tortured them overnight before he called the Dokolo District Police Commander, Aminsi Kayondo Lukanga to collect them the following morning.
The suspects were smeared with a mixture of ash and salt before they were assaulted with hot metallic objects. Ocen pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail through his lawyer, Innocent Omara of Omara Innocent and Company Advocate on grounds of ill health and being of advanced age.
He presented his uncle Faustine Pule, a resident of Adari b village in Dokolo and his sister, Otak Esther Okuja, the Lira District Senior Accountant as his sureties. Bengu objected to the bail application, saying Ocen could use his influential position in society to interfere with the investigations and compromise witnesses in the case.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate Alex Mushebe Kerecho, said being of advanced age and his medical condition, the accused requires continuous medical attention, which the state may not provide. He also said the prosecution had failed to adduce evidence showing that the accused would jeopardize investigations and compromise witnesses once given bail.
He granted Ocen bail and directed him to deposit his passport in court and execute a cash bond of Shillings 300,000. Each of his sureties executed a non-cash bond of Shillings 500,000. Ocen, who met all the bail conditions, is expected to return to court on May 31st for the commencing of the hearing of his case.
