Category: Justice

{Forty seven cases relating to election of councillors in the last general election have been filed at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam involving four political parties.}

Court records show that of the cases, 19 have already been disposed of, whereas 12 have been filed by candidates from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi against winners from Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) and the Civic United Front (CUF), which were as well dismissed for lack of sufficient grounds.

They involved Kelvin Mbogo from Mbezi Juu Ward, Victor Mwakasendule from Makangarawe Ward, Shirima Quirine from Makaburini Ward, Faraham Abbas from Kinondoni Ward, Godfrey Mheluka of Kimara Ward, Hashimu Mbonde from Mbweni Ward and Batuli Mziya from Mnyamani Ward.

The rest involve Bernard Lwehasura from Mikocheni Ward, Tamim Tamim of Tandale Ward, Henry Chaula of Mjimwema Ward, Judith Magembe from Mtoni Ward and Siraju Mwahs of Msigeni Ward. Records show that the remaining seven cases were withdrawn by the petitioners for various reasons.

They involved Rukia Mwenge from Kimanga Ward, Barua Mwakilanga from Buguruni Ward, Hemedy Sabula from Kiburugwa Ward, Tito Osoro also from Kiburugwa, Siraju Mwasha from Msigani Ward, Judith Boniface and Josephine Wage from Hananasifu Ward.

It is shown that the other 28 undetermined cases were at various stages, with one pending for ruling, eight awaiting hearing of the arguments and the remaining 19 were being mentioned to await the parties to complete some requirements before they are heard.

The records further show that in the undetermined cases, 24 candidates are opposing the election results in their respective wards, while Chadema is challenging results in three wards and ACT-Wazalendo disputes results in one ward.

In those wards, Chadema won 19 seats in Vijibweni, Mbweni, Makongo, Wazo, Pugu, Tabata, Kinyerezi, Bunyokwa, Gongo la Mboto, Chang’ombe, Mchikichini, Majohe, Ukonga, Kipawa, Liwiti, Ugungo, Zingiziwa and Saranga Wards.

While CUF emerged winners in six Wards of Buguruni, Makumbusho, Mbagala, Manzese, Minazini and Manzini, but CCM won only three seats from Mzinga, Chanika and Tuangoma wards. All these wards are from Ilala, Temeke and Kinondoni districts.

Source:Daily News:[47 election case for councillors filed at Kisutu RM’s Court->http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/46347-47-election-case-for-councillors-filed-at-kisutu-rm-s-court]

{The International Crimianl Court has warned the public against exposing protected witnesses, saying they face five year jail term or a fine.}

This follows a question from one of the journalist who said that he intercepted one of the victims (woman) and interviewed her.

Maria Mabiti Kamara, the ICC Outreach officer for Uganda and Kenya, sounded the warning while addressing a press conference Wednesday at Hotel Africana.

“Whoever exposes protected witness who are going to testify against Ongwen will face five years jail or fined,” she said.

Source:The Nee Vision:[ICC warns against witness intimidation and exposure ->http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1415314/icc-warns-witness-intimidation-exposure]

{A native doctor accused of trespassing at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court and sprinkling fetishes (powder-like substances) on the seat of the Chief Magistrate has been further remanded to Luzira Prison.}

Mr Issa Kiwanuka is facing one count of criminal trespass alongside Ms Alice Nalule. Grade One Magistrate, Joan Aciro ordered the duo to return to prison until January 22, when they will appear for the hearing.

The two accused persons first appeared before court on January 14, this year and entered a plea of not guilty.

Prosecution led by Ms Patricia Chingtho state that the duo on January 12, this year at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court in Kampala District unlawfully entered into or upon Court One, in the possession of the judiciary (a time non-staff members are not allowed to enter). Prosecution further stated that they remained there with intent to intimidate, insult or annoy No.30022 Police Corporal, Jackson Bansiime, who was charged with the responsibility of watching over court.

The accused persons were caught by the court cleaners, sprinkling fetishes in the wee hours of the morning, before court business could begin.

Upon interrogation at Police, Mr Kiwanuka a peasant from Mityana, revealed that he doubles as a native doctor and Ms Nalule had hired him to cast a spell on the seat of the Chief Magistrate and that of the state prosecutors with the intention of causing them to release her husband who was identified as Mr Zacchaeus Ssekiziyivu from jail.

Mr Ssekiziyivu is facing over 100 charges of obtaining money by false pretense, and his case was coming up for mention the day they were arrested. His case proceeded and he was returned to prison on remand.

Source:The New Vision:[Sorcerer jailed for sprinkling herbs on magistrate’s chair->http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Sorcerer-jailed-for-sprinkling-herbs-on-magistrate-s-chair/-/688334/3041526/-/157hbxiz/-/index.html]

{SIX senior officials with Six Telecoms Company Limited appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday charged with two counts of fraudulent traffic and occasioning a loss of over 8bn/- to Tanzania Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TCRA)
}

They are Hafidh Shamte, alias Rashid Shamte, who is the Director and Chief Executive Office; Raphael Hongo Onyango, the Chief Finance Officer and Said Mohamed Ally, who is an Accountant.

The rest are Noel Odeny Chacha, the Marketing Officer, Tinisha Max, who is Network Administrator and Vishno Konreddy, the Head of Data Business.

They were not allowed to enter plea to the charges when they were brought before PrincipalResident Magistrate Respicious Mwijage, because they are charged under the Economic and organised Crime Act.

All of the accused persons were ordered to go to remand because the court could not entertain any bail application, as the court vested with jurisdiction to hear the matter is the High Court.

The lower court could entertain such an economic case upon securing consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The case will be mentioned on January 28, as the prosecution informed the court that investigations into the matter have not been completed.

According to the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Theophil Mutakyawa and Senior State Attorney Jacqueline Nyantori, the accused persons committed the offences on different days between May 2010 and January 2016.

It is alleged that in order to obtain a financial or personal gain, the accused persons charged International Telecommunication Traffic at a rate below the minimum rate of 25 US dollars cents per minute.

As a result, the prosecution alleged, the accused persons failed to pay to TCRA revenue amounting to 3,836,861.99 US dollars, generated from the minimum rate of international income telecommunications traffic.

The prosecution told the court that within the said period, in the city of Dar es Salaam, following a move of charging lower international telecommunication rates and failure to pay the revenue generated, the accused caused a loss to the authority.

Arraignment of officials with Six Telecoms Tanzania Limited comes just a day after TCRA, communications industry regulator, suspended all services provided by the local firm, for allegedly occasioning losses to the government.

It followed an impromptu inspection by TCRA at the company’s offices and facilities in Dar es Salaam on Thursday on claims that the company was charging lower tariffs on international calls than those indicated by the industry watchdog.