Ex-News anchor Salim Swaleh among suspects arrested in Mudavadi office fraud case

According to a press release issued by Peter Warutere, Secretary Strategic Communications at Mudavadi's office, the suspects facing impersonation, fraud, and abuse of office charges were apprehended following a tip-off. 

"The arrests followed a tipoff that alerted OPCS-MFDA security, who then mounted intense surveillance at the OPCS-MFDA Railways Office to disrupt the reported nefarious acts of impersonation and abuse of the facility by the fraudsters," the statement reads in part.

According to investigations, a group posing as visitors would gain individual access to the Railways Building on various dates and times by impersonating VIP guests or government officers, as well as the officers they claimed to be visiting.

Their victims, according to Mudavadi's office, were mostly foreigners who were led into the Railways Building ostensibly to meet with high-ranking government officials in exchange for favours and bribes.

Investigations into the fraudsters' cabal have revealed co-conspirators, including government officials who aided their illegal activities. 

Mudavadi's Director of Press was among those apprehended after the swindlers were discovered with fake door switch-nametags inside his office. 

"Apparently, government officers arrested had perfected "renting" office space to criminals by either vacating their offices for the fraudsters' use, or deceptively misrepresenting themselves," the statement from CS Mudavadi's office states. 

"This deception also meant switching legitimate name tags with fake ones on office doors to advance the scams."

Detectives say the suspects attempted to bribe their way out shortly after being arrested. 

"Upon being smoked out in one of the OPCS-MFDA Railway offices where the confidence tricksters had settled in wait for their victims on Saturday, the group had the audacity of attempting to bribe their way out," the statement reads.