DPP files objection to Hassano’s bail application

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed an objection, seeking dismissal of an application for bail lodged by influential Simba member and the club’s former Secretary General, Hassan Othman, alias Hassano, at the High Court in Dar es Salaam.

Judge Rose Teemba was on Monday scheduled to hear grounds of the objection in question, but postponed the session to another date to allow the parties to address the matter by way of written submissions.

She ordered the DPP to file his submissions on January 10, next year, while advocates for Hassano would lodge their reply on January 24. The judge said she would deliver her ruling on the matter on February 17.

The DPP alleges in the objection that the application for bail was incompetent and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Other accused in the case, who are all out on bail, are Ally Kimwanga, Dastan Mwanga, Godfrey Mwanga, John Mlai, Khalid Fazaldin and Lusekelo Mwakajila.

They are charged with conspiring between September 1 and November 20, 2012, in the city to commit an offence of conducting business of government trophies illegally.

The prosecution alleges that within the same period in Dar es Salaam and Hong Kong, intentionally organised, managed, supervised and financed a criminal racket to carry the business of trophy dealing without licence.

It is alleged that the accused exported 569 pieces of elephant tasks weighing 1330kg valued at 1,185,030,000 to Hong Kong.

The accused, within the same period and place, unlawfully conducted the business without having any dealer’s licence, the prosecution further alleged.

Hassano decided to file the application for bail after the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in the city acquitted him on the other case he was charged with theft of several tons of copper worth over 397m/-.

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