Bernhard “Bery” Glaser on a stretcher in court on Wednesday (PHOTO/File)
KAMPALA — Bernhard Glaser a German national, who was arrested on charges related of defilement has died from Luzira state penitentiary, Uganda prison authorities have said.
Uganda Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine on Thursday morning said Glaser who run the “Bery’s Place”, a shelter for “sexually” abused girls on Mwena Island in Kalanga has been appearing before the court for alleged crimes of sexual abuse.
He arrested in April 2019 and charged with 28 counts including aggravated defilement and child trafficking among others.
According to media reports, his lawyers had earlier complained to Masaka High Court that their client was suffering from a terminal illness that required medical attention but a medical report by Uganda Cancer Institute in July 2019 indicated that Glaser’s health condition was not so grave for him not to withstand trial.
On Wednesday May, the High Court asked Glaser to pay UGX 30 Million before he is released on bail and flown to Belgium for treatment.
Glaser was reportedly carried on a stretcher to and from the court before he was taken to Murchison Bay Hospital in Luzira prison where he died according to Mr Baine.
Glaser was first arrested in December 2013 on suspicion of sexually abusing 19 minors under his care in Kalangala, central Uganda.
He was later acquitted by the court after the state failed to get incriminating evidence against him.
