The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has made a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the Acclaim BLQ Sports fraud case. Today, on June 23, 2023, a team from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) apprehended Mr. Yinghe Chen, a 43-year-old Chinese national and resident of UCB Zone in Bukoto 1, Nakawa Division, Kampala.
The arrest of Mr. Yinghe Chen follows an extensive interagency investigation conducted by the National Cyber Taskforce, which comprises several key organizations, including CID, Crime Intelligence (CI), ISO, ESO, CMI, Bank of Uganda, NIRA, NITA Uganda, and Uganda Banker Association, among others. The investigation focused on allegations of fraud committed by Acclaim BLQ Sports SMC and its five subsidiary companies.
This latest arrest brings the total number of individuals apprehended in connection to the Acclaim BLQ Sports fraud case to five. On May 11, 2023, the police arrested Awori Mary, the wife of Mr. Yinghe Chen and the registered director of Acclaim BLQ Sports SMC. Subsequently, on June 12, 2023, the police apprehended Akoth Justine Oboth, Achola Mary, and Biira Shamim. All four suspects have been presented before the court.
The estimated number of victims affected by this fraudulent scheme stands at 6,000 Ugandans, with reported losses exceeding 4.5 billion shillings. Acclaim BLQ Sports SMC attracted individuals to its online betting platform with the slogan, “You lose, You win,” which allegedly enticed a significant number of people to engage with the company.
The Directorate of CID is collaborating closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to ensure the swift production of Mr. Yinghe Chen in court. The UPF reiterates its commitment to treating public interest cases with utmost seriousness. They encourage all members of the public who possess relevant information pertaining to this investigation to come forward and share it with the nearest police station.
The UPF’s successful arrest of Mr. Yinghe Chen and their efforts to dismantle the Acclaim BLQ Sports fraud network demonstrate their dedication to combating financial crimes and protecting the interests of the Ugandan public.