‘Senior Pastor,’ Dickson Ruhasha
Ugandan Pastor “Defrauds” US Philanthropists On Internet
Police have commenced investigations into suspected
fraudulent internet activities of a Ugandan “pastor.”
By
18/03/2013 13:11:00
Cornerstone World Miracle
Ministries ‘Senior Pastor,’ Dickson Ruhasha Fresiano, has been accused by an
American identified as Kelly L Hansen of “defrauding people on the internet.”
“He (Ruhasha) is presenting
himself as founder of Friends Orphanage and School in Kampala, Uganda.
If you read the Status report on the Orphanage provided to me by the attorney I
hired in Kampala,
Friends Orphanage was closed in February, 2012 due to the owner using funds for
his own personal enrichment,” said Kelly.
The preacher’s mission is
reportedly based at Kisugu, Muwayire
Road, Plot 566, Makindye, Kampala.
According to Kelly, Ruhasha
extorts donations stating his children are passing out with hunger and are
drinking dirty water.
“I've identified other
victims of his, as well. LinkedIn was how he contacted me and his other
victims, and I contacted them and told them of his activities. They
performed an investigation and removed him from LinkedIn.”
Kelly, in an email to
Uganda Police dated March 16 which Chimpreports has seen, suspects Ruhasha has
several websites he used to con unsuspecting western donors and that he is part
of an internet "ring" of fraudsters.
She said: “I had my e-mails
investigated and they were shown to have had my bank information compromised.
Now, several other people (questionable) have contacted me with schemes of
"big contributions to HOMEOWNERS HELPING HOMEOWNERS" from London and Australia
and I think they are connected to him.”
Uganda Police Press and
Media Officer Patrick Onyango confirmed reception of the emails, saying
investigations were underway.
Kelly said she hired an
attorney in Uganda,
Mauren Kemigisha, a Legal Associate at Capital Law & Partners Advocates to
help her recover $3300 (Shs8.7m) she lost to Ruhasha.
“Would you help me recover
my $3300.00 USD from this imposter? I've already found another victim (the
owner of CALL MOM in Denver) among his contacts on Linked-In, she also donated
a large sum to him under his pressure tactics,” Kelly urged Police.
“The Pastor uses scripture,
and shames one into helping children who he says are sitting around him crying
and "passing out with hunger having not eaten in days, suffering with
chills and fever with Malaria, and more."
Contacted, Ruhasha admitted
to fraudulently receiving money from Kelly.
“Yes, it is true she gave
me money in form of a donation but she wants it back and I will give it to
her,” said Ruhasha.
Asked why he fronted a
closed company to receive funding from the donor, Ruhasha responded: “I used
the money to construct an orphanage in Kisugu but she wants her money
back. I am planning to gather the money and give it back to her. I will
pay in installments within four or six months.”
Kampala Metropolitan
Spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi recently warned the public of increased cases of
online fraudsters especially in Kampala.
- See more at: http://www.chimpreports.com/index.php/special-reports/crime-investigation/8826-ugandan-pastor-%E2%80%9Cdefrauds%E2%80%9D-us-philanthropists-on-internet.html#sthash.GuWvQbF7.dpuf
