Two parish chiefs in Amuru district are in police custody for issuing fake movement receipts to illegal charcoal dealers.
The suspects are David Aliker of Okungedi parish and Charles Ochola of Acwera, Amuru Sub County. The duo were picked by police on Friday on the orders of the Amuru district chairperson, Michael Lakony.
Lakony revealed that the duo were found to be mounting illegal road blocks at night and issuing forged receipts to people ferrying illegal tree products. They reportedly charged between 150,000 and 600,000 shillings per truck loaded with the illegal products.
Lakony revealed that the two are most likely to face interdiction if found guilty of the allegations.
Emmanuel Bwambale, the Amuru District Police Commander said the suspects are being held at Amuru police station and being investigated for forgery and mounting illegal road blocks.
‘‘The two are in our custody and I am on ground doing investigations over the allegations but we may release them on bond as investigation continues,’’ Bwambale said on phone.
Lakony alleges that several parish chiefs and local chairpersons in Amuru are mounting illegal road blocks to extort money from the illegal dealers.
He said the hot spots for the extortion are Otici in Lamogi, Obera Abic, and Olinga in Pabbo Sub County.
Last year, Richard Abola P`Lacaka, the Pabbo Town Council Councilor LCV was arrested by police in Akurukwee outpost for grabbing receipts from charcoal dealers from his sub county.
He was later charged with theft of government documents before his release on bond.
In 2016 Amuru local government banned all commercial trading in tree products due to extensive destruction of forests.
