Arua Grade One Magistrate, Mr Swaleh Asiku has set Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake free from charges of escape from lawful custody.
In his ruling, Asiku faulted police for not taking any action upon Zaake when they found him at Mengo Hospital yet they claimed he was a suspect.
“The fact that the police left the accused (Zaake) at the hospital unguarded meant that he was not a suspect. I now acquit the accused because he has no case to answer,” Asiku said.
In August last year, Zaake was amongst the crowds that were in Arua when the infamous by election fracas that allegedly led to the stoning of President Museveni’s convoy. He was among the 34 suspects that were arrested and a few days later he was found at Mengo Hospital all bruised.
The legislator claimed to have been tortured by the
security operatives who arrested him in Arua. After being blocked several times
to seek specialised treatment abroad, Zaake was finally allowed. In February
this year, Zaake was arrested and charged with escaping from lawful custody but
was later released on bail of Shs50 million not cash.