Tycoon Luang Malong Jnr released under suspicious circumstances

Controversial South Sudan tycoon Lawrence Lual Malong Yor Jnr who had barely served a quarter of his prison sentence has been freed.

Malong Jnr, ‘Young Tycoon’ as he likes to call himself, was slapped with a 6-year sentence in 2021 after defrauding two Ethiopian nationals of Ksh.124 million ($1 million).

Hiss's release has landed a Ugandan court's senior clerk in serious trouble, as she is currently under probe after ordering the release.

According to the Daily Monitor, following his controversial release by Court of Appeal clerk, Ms. Jane Apio, the Judiciary has launched investigations into her, accusing her of doctoring a release judgment on January 13.

Together with the court's assistant registrar, Henry Twinomuhwezi, who signed the release judgment, she appeared before courts, attributing her action to an alleged judgment that had quashed the 6-year sentence.

On February 9, the court issued a correct version of the judgment release order and recalled Apio's judgment.

“The appeal against conviction is dismissed. The finding of the conviction in respect to courts 1,3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10 are hereby confirmed,” the correct version of the judgment order read in part.

“By this order, the order dated January 13th 2023, in respect to A1 (Malong) is recalled/cancelled."

Ms. Apio is said to have since conceded her wrongdoing and written an apology.

In the case that saw Malong be sent to jail, it is reported that he had enticed the Ethiopians to invest in a gold business and even claimed to be ‘connected’ to Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. He failed to deliver the gold to them as promised.

After a two-year dragged case, he was handed three years behind bars for obtaining money by false pretense, two years for conspiracy to commit a felony, and one year for using false documents. 

He was charged alongside his accomplices, Mike Lota, a Congolese national, and Gavana Zhikusoka.