Son of Ugandan Ex-president jailed for the murder of Somali man
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London, 4 August 2007 - A son of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was sentenced to a five-year jail term in Britain earlier this year for taking part in a violent attack in which a youth from Somalia died, the legal authorities revealed Friday. Faisal Wangita, 25, was part of a gang which attacked 18-year-old Mahir Osman, in Camden, north London, in January last year.
During the horrifying attack, the victim was stabbed 20 times, struck with baseball bats, bottles and hammers, punched and kicked, and died instantly, it was revealed.
Eight defendants were convicted of various offences. Three youths were given life sentences in May for murder but Wangita, 25, was cleared of the offence.
He was jailed for five years for conspiracy to wound with intent and violent disorder after the court heard that he was a "serious risk to the public."
Wangita had joined in the attack, kicking the victim on the ground, the court heard. Blood stains were found on his trousers.
At the time, the jury at the Old Bailey Criminal Court in London was not told they were dealing with Amin's son because it was felt it would prejudice his case.
However, the ban on disclosing his identification was lifted by the Court Friday, following the completion of two further trials linked to the case.
Wangita, who had been living in London with his mother for several years, claimed he was born in November, 1981, but a document showed his birth as February, 1983.
His papers said he was born in Uganda but he told police he was born in Saudi Arabia.
The first police knew about about Amin being his father was when it was announced in court by his counsel.
The Amin family fled Uganda when he was ousted by Tanzanian-backed Ugandan rebels in 1979, and lived in exile in Saudi Arabia.
Amin had 40 officially-recorded children from seven official wives. Nothing is known about Wangita's mother.
Source: Earthtimes
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