Flashy South Sudanese Fraudster Lawrence Malong Sentenced To 6 Years In Jail Over $1M Gold Scam

KAMPALA  – A court in Ugandan has sentenced South Sudanese national Lawrence Lual Malong Yor who is better known as ‘Young Tycoon’ to six years in Jail along with two others for obtaining over $1 million false pretenses.

The trio were also convicted of conspiring to defraud two Ethiopian nationals as well as uttering false documents (five counts).

Several individuals across Africa and Asia were involved in a gold scam to the   tune   of   1.092.000$.

The   complainants,   Wagnew   Dessie   and   Abebe   of Ethiopian   origin   based   and   working   in   South   Africa   got   into   a   working relationship with Malong, a South Sudanese National mostly resident in Uganda.

He convinced them to come to Uganda and invest in the gold business.

He introduced   them   to   Congolese   representatives   of   gold   owners   and   other Ugandan   counterparts.

This   sparked   off   a   series   of   incredible   transactions traversing Dubai, Nairobi, Hong Kong, Brussels and Zambia in the hope of concluding the transaction.

Upon realizing that they had been duped, the complainants reported a case in Nairobi first and then Uganda.

Malong showing off his stash of dollars.

The case gained its notoriety from the flamboyant Malong who claimed to be a son of a general in South Sudan and asserted connections with His Excellency the President of Uganda.

Malong was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences, 2 years for conspiracy to commit a felony and 1 year for uttering false documents.

Lota was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences, 1 year for conspiracy to commit a felony and 1 year for uttering false documents.

Zhikusooka was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences, 1 year for conspiracy to commit a felony and 2 years for uttering false documents.

The sentences are to run concurrently. In addition, a compensation order of USD 1,092,000 was made.

They were however acquitted on the count of money laundering and two counts of uttering false documents.

“We commend the Prosecutors for successfully prosecuting the matter,” said Jacquelyn Okui, Public Relations Officer Office of the DPP.

Boastful Malong who courted the media attention in his prime, flashed dollars, flew private jets, lived in presidential suites and claimed to have been the richest young man in Africa. He bought the media and often paid for his interviews. As most cases of such characters whose source of wealth are never unclear, it all turns out the same, fraudsters. In his defense he often said his wealth was from Jesus Christ.