Sh80m theft case: Korean bosses at Good Neighbors NGO grilled by police

Two Korean nationals heading an international NGO have so far recorded police statements in relation to the theft of at least sh80m which belonged to one of their junior workers.

This publication has learnt that Sunyoung Shin, the Country Director for Good Neighbors International Uganda, on August 8, was grilled by police detectives at Fort Portal Regional CID offices.

According to the officers, Shin denied knowledge of the money as she was not the one who ransacked the house of Bernard Kazahura, a junior worker at the Kyegegwa based NGO.

Earlier, the Project Manager of Good Neighbors International Uganda at Kyaka Field office, Sinho Kang (Simon), also recorded a statement at the same office.

According to sources, Simon broke into the apartment of his junior Ugandan workmate, Kazahura, in June and forcibly confiscated his property which included a log book, academic documents, clothes and shs80m.

A statement recorded by Kazahura in July at Kyegegwa Central Police Station indicates that he had gotten the money to go and purchase land for his brother when Simon took it.

Information on the complaint logged in by Kazahura under SD Ref: 41/30/06/2024 (criminal trespass and theft) indicates that Kazahura had been transferred under unclear circumstances when the alleged theft occurred.
“I requested our Country Director to give me time so that I could pick my property by she refused,” Kazahura stated.

Kazahura then sent his brother to pick his property but on reaching the apartment at Kyegegwa there were no property.

He confirmed to this publication that by Wednesday he had not yet seen any of his property and money, which were picked from his room in June.

Detectives at Kyegegwa then mounted a hunt for Simon who had switched off his phones.

“We shall track him and get him even if his phones are off,” a detective who preferred anonymity said then.

However, later he turned himself in, recorded a statement and was released on police bond.

Kazahura’s lawyers who spoke to this publication vowed to pursue the matter to its logical end.

“However, if they request for an out of court settlement, we shall listen to them,” one of the lawyers opined shortly after witnessing Shin’s recording of her statement.

Good Neighbors is a multi-billion shillings NGO which mostly operates in Kyaka II Refugee Resettlement, Mukono, Mpigi, Luweero, Mityana, Jinja and Pallisa districts.