Dar es Salaam: Court grants bail to four accused in passport theft case

THE Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam rejected the prosecution's objection to bail four people, including Immigration Department official Shemweta Mustafa Kiluwasha and prominent musician, Chigwele Che Mundugwao, charged with forging and stealing 26 passports.

Senior Resident Magistrate Aloyce Katemana ruled that the certificate by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) that had been presented in court to support the prosecution's request was not properly filed.

The magistrate, therefore, proceeded to grant bail to the accused persons on conditions of securing two reliable sureties. He also ordered the accused persons to surrender their travel documents before the court. The case comes today for verification of bail conditions.

Other accused persons in the case are Kenneth Kombo Pius, an Engineer with Fire and Rescue Department and Ally Jabir Ally, a businessman. They are all defended by youthful and soft spoken lawyer, Peter Kibatala.

Senior State Attorney Ladislaus Komanya had told the court that at unknown time and place in the city, the four people conspired to commit an offence.

He told the court that between April 16 and May 10, this year, at Immigration Department offices at Kurasini area in Temeke District, being employed in public services, Kiluwasha stole 26 passports valued at 1.3m/-, property of the government, which came into his possession by virtue of his employment.

"Between April 16 and May 10, 2013 at Kurasini area in Temeke District, Che Mundugwao, Pius and Ally stole 26 passports valued at 1.3m/-, property of United Republic of Tanzania," the prosecutor alleged.

According to him, on May 30 this year, at Yombo Makangalawe area in Temeke District, without lawful excuse, Che Mundugwao, a board member of the Tanzania Music Federation (TMF), was found in possession of 12 passports belonging to other persons.

Mr Komanya alleged further that on May 13, this year, at the same area, without lawful authority, Che Mundugwao was found in possession of two valid passports bearing his name.

Furthermore, the prosecution told the court that on April 22, this year, at unknown place in the City, Che Mundugwao and Pius forged a passport number AB 651929, purporting to show that it was genuinely issued by the Immigration Department of Tanzania.

"On April 24, 2013 at unknown place in Dar es Salaam, Ally Jabri Ally forged passport number AB 651966 purporting to show that it was genuinely issued by the Immigration Department of the United Republic of Tanzania," the trial attorney alleged.

In addition, Mr Komanya claimed that between 2007 and 2011 in Dar es Salaam, Kiluwasha forged an official document, which is a rubber stamp, purportedly showing that it was genuinely issued by the Fire and Rescue Department of Tanzania.

Source: http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/18327-court-grants-bail-to-four-accused-in-passport-theft-case