The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has withdrawn charges of money laundering against human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo.
Opiyo, the Executive Director of Chapter Four Uganda, was violently arrested on 22nd December 2020 by plain-clothed law enforcement officers.
He was later charged under section 3 (c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act on allegations that he acquired USD 340,000 through the bank account of Chapter Four Uganda, knowing that “the said funds were proceeds of crime”.
However, months later without the trial kicking off, Opiyo filed his application in the High Court asking charges to be dismissed on grounds that it appeared police was not demonstrating progress in concluding investigations which in his view the charges were malicious, unjust and unfair.
“This is to inform Court that the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) has decided to discontinue proceedings against Nicholas Opiyo,” said DPP Jane Francis Abodo in a letter dated 10th September to the Anti-corruption court.
Opiyo’s Chapter Four Uganda has since been closed by the government of Uganda together with 53 other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for alleged failure to comply with legislation covering their operations.