We all remember this guy, Michael Ezra something. He burst onto the world scene with his bid for Leeds FC a few years ago. The bid failed, but a new celebrity was born. And to keep up with his new found fame Ezra dished out cash left right and centre to deserving causes and then some. His particular favourite was cash strapped sports organisations and teams.
Well over the years the rumours have gathered steam: Ezra is actually broke. My take is that he never had any money in the first place, but then again what do I know. Finally over the last few weeks his creditors have come to the fore The national Bank of Commerce, various businessmen and a good doctor too, all gave this fellow amounts well over the $500,000 mark for various ventures and have all come up short.
The tale gets messy with a chain of bounced cheques ( a criminal offence in uganda) that includes the taxman! The Uganda Revenue Authority audited Michael Ezra Mulyoowa and determined he owed them over half a million dollars, he agreed to pay and gave them a lousy cheque. Now there are certain rules you dont break and screwing the taxman is definitely one of them. They are baying for his blood, but as in the perculiar Ugandan fashion he has not been arrested, nor has his property been seized…..I wonder why?
Well as his mogul image took a beating in public Ezra called a press conference where he assured the press he was very much solvent and stacked $ 3 million in crisp notes on a table to prove it. The press was startled and impressed. but I am not.
Which hard working and honest man runs about with that kind of money in cash. No genuine businessman needs to prove to the public he still has it with such a stunt. It simply tells your creditors that your fair game for them. As for the taxman…………need i say more. Well apparently he has a travvel ban on his head, why they dont just arrest the fraud is anyone’s guess. But then again: whose money is he cleaning?
