"Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum"

Dar es Salaam: Ex-death row inmate calls for abolition of death penalty

BY SYLIVESTER DOMASA.


Once again, the government has been advised to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment in order to utilise skills and experience of the inmate in production activities such as agriculture.

Accordingly the government should set aside arable land for prisoners to exercise agricultural production instead of remaining in cells, former death row inmate Michael Lembeli advised yesterday.

Lembeli made the remarks when making a testimony during a civil society forum on the death penalty and alternative sanctions held in Dar es Salaam. The forum was organised by the Legal and Human Right Centre (LHRC).

According to Lembeli the government has been incurring various costs in up-keeping death row inmates such as provision of food and other life amenities.

Death row inmates face extremely psychological torture, he said, “as they remain keen waiting for the President’s signature that grants the authority to ‘ambush’ them…unfortunately the date never surpass in their entire life.”

He insisted on the government to replace the death penalty with alternative sanctions such as life imprisonment sentence in order to give relief and the right to life to culprits. 

Lembeli who had been under arrest for stealing coaches at Uyui in Tabora in September 1994,was forcefully linked with suspects who gunned-down a prison officer at Tabora–Relini. By that time Lembeli was to attend sit for his Form Four national examinations.

Lembeli (41) who remained behind the bars for 19 years, among other things, succeeded to return to civil life after he managed to convince the Appeals Court to nullify the conviction made by the High Court in Tabora Region.

Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) acting executive director Harold Sungusia said the country has some way in which it can make changes to the law of the land.
He said the ongoing constitution writing process can address the issue by ensuring that it promotes human rights.

“We’re facing problems with our human right provision systems, because it is not that much smart … it has resulted in erroneous conviction of innocent people,” he said.

He added: “When execution is mistakenly made, no one can revert someone’s life”.

He seconded the argument that the person who will be found quilt should in turn be used for production to feed the family of the victim- the diseased.

According to Sungusia, the country’s human rights provision system has been corruptly affected.

However in setting up life imprisonment sentence to replace death penalty more emphasis needs to be put in place to promote the rule of law and good governance.

Giving a brief summary on the situation of human rights in the country, Principal Judge (rtd) who is also Chairperson of Human Right Commission and Good Governance Amir Manento said gradual changes are needed in the entire system and that the government should not fast track abolishing the death penalty.

Judge Manento said, the court needs to be given the mandate to decide on lawsuits and convictions instead of acting on already written manuscripts.

He said relying much on developed manuscripts to judge any case has negative implications especially when prosecutors submit false information.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (30/04/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=54113

ARUSHA: Lema defiant as he is released on bail

By Zephania Ubwani, The Citizen Bureau Chief.


Arusha Urban MP Godbless Lema has defiantly said he will fight against constant harassment by government authorities after he was released on bail following charges of incitement levelled at him in court.

Mr Lema, who is not a stranger to courts of law, was arrested Thursday night for allegedly inciting students at the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) on Wednesday, last week, when he met them during a gathering. The students went on the rampage following the mysterious killing of their colleague.

Mr Lema also battled to retain his seat for about nine months after the High Court nullified his election on April 5, 2012, following his victory in the 2010 General Election. The court’s decision was on the basis that Mr Lema’s campaign rallies, which were held between August 20 and October 30, 2010, involved abusive language against his ruling party opponent, Dr Batilda Burian, which contravened election laws, rules and regulations.

He then proceeded to the appellate court which, last December, reinstated him as Arusha Urban MP after quashing the High Court’s ruling on the grounds that the three CCM members who went to court to nullify Lema’s victory had no locus standi to petition the High Court to challenge the election. Ms Burian is now Tanzania’s high commissioner to Kenya.

Since then Mr Lema has been in constant friction with law enforcement organs, which he accuses of being used by Arusha authorities to harass him.

Yesterday Mr Lema told hundreds of his followers, who marched from the Arusha Resident Magistrate’s Court to Chadema offices, west of the town, that he would never bow to intimidation by the regional authorities.

Reading the charges against the MP yesterday, Prosecutor Elianenyi Njiro told the packed Arusha Resident Magistrate’s Court that the legislator incited college students who then disrupted Arusha Regional Commissioner Magesa Mulongo’s meeting at the college.

The prosecutor said Mr Lema also allegedly uttered negative remarks directed at Mr Mulongo who had rushed to the area following reported tension at the campus after the unexplained killing. Mr Lema, who was addressing the shocked students when the RC arrived, allegedly described the regional administrator as not concerned with the death of the student given the manner he reached the campus as if he was in a ‘send off’ convoy. Other remarks the Arusha Urban MP (Chadema) reportedly uttered include that Mr Mulongo behaved as if he did not know where the IAA was located and apparently failed to sympathise with the grieving student community.

“Mr Lema did incite the students of the Institute of Accountancy Arusha to commit the offence by uttering these words which caused breach of peace,” Ms Njiro told the court after the MP was brought in from remand prison.

The legislator, who has been in constant trouble with government authorities since his election in October 2010, is defended by a prominent advocate in Arusha Method Kimomogoro and was released on Sh1 million bond with one surety.

He pleaded ‘not guilty’. Resident Magistrate Devotha Msoffe adjourned the case to May 29, this year, when it will come up for mention.

Hundreds of Chadema supporters turned up at the Court premises from early in the morning prompting anti-riot police in full gear to be deployed around the area in anticipation of trouble. Mr Lema, clad in his usual khaki combats, the trademark for Chadema party, was brought into the Court at around 9.30 am in heavy police escort.

Joyous pandemonium reigned in the area after he emerged from the courtroom about an hour later. He was escorted from the court premises by cheering supporters who marched for about three kilometres to the Chadema offices.

Chadema supporters carrying placards denouncing the RC marched along the major roads in the heart of Arusha and were only metres from the regional government office block with the police looking on. No ugly incidents were reported.

Mr Lema was arrested at his Njiro residence early on Friday and has since been held at the central police station.

The Police are yet to arrest any suspect linked with the killing of 22-year-old First Year student Henry Koga at the institute at 10 pm on April 23.

There is growing concern here that the authorities were more concerned with Lema than the unexplained death of the student which has shocked many in Arusha.

Fourteen students were arrested alongside the MP for allegedly heckling and pelting the RC and his entourage. The institute, which is under the ministry of Finance, has been closed indefinitely.

Source: The Citizen (29/04/2013): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/-/30982-lema-defiant-as-he-is-released-on-bail

RWANDA: Public opposes lowering marriage age

By James Karuhanga.


Many Rwandans have sound reasons as to why marriage age must remain at 21 and not 18 as proposed in the draft law governing persons and family, Parliament heard yesterday. 

Lawmakers on Parliament’s Standing Committee on Political Affairs and Gender were debating the Bill, which seeks to amend the 1988 law to align it with the Constitution, the Penal Code, current realities, and the country’s policy on gender equality. 

The committee traversed the country gathering public views in 19 districts, including those in the City of Kigali. 

Committee chairperson Alfred Rwasa Kayiranga said religious leaders, local leaders, women and youth representatives, and others, all indicated that the proposal is “not acceptable.” 

“What was clear, in all the districts we visited, is that people highlighted that 18 years are way very low. And people gave several reasons,” Kayiranga said, adding that the main concern is the general wellbeing and life of a child produced by a teenage mother. 

‘Raise it instead’

“We noted that all Rwandans understand the importance of ensuring that all our children have an appropriate education,” Kayiranga said. “People indicated that with universal primary education and after primary and secondary school, most children are 18 and if they were married off, it would be equal to destroying their future.” 

Sylvestre Hitimana, a lawyer from the National Commission of Children (NCC), told the session that NCC was also concerned with Article 166 of the Bill. 

The article states that a boy and a girl cannot enter into a marriage contract before attaining the age of 18.

Hitimana said: “Eighteen years of age is just too low. We largely base our position on the fact that in September 2011, government approved a new policy comprising everything to do with a child’s rights. For us we actually propose that marriage age could be increased. If it was more than 21, we would be more than happy. 25 years would be okay for us.” 

He added that in a social context, even though at 18 one is grown up, that person has not attained maturity to manage life’s challenges, especially in marriage. 

“This is basically one of the reasons why many families are breaking up,” Hitimana argued.  

Not ready for parenting

Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe’s Suzanne Ruboneka said the 58 organisations under her grouping also have noted with concerns on the proposed lowering of marriage age. 

The organisations argue that there should be no differentiating between a boy and a girl when it comes to marriage age, resulting in a constitutional contradiction. 

“At 18, a child in the village or in an urban locality in our society, is still an adolescent who is in plain transformation, and not even stable when it comes to decision-making. There is no doubt that such a child can give birth, after all, even at 14, one can give birth. However, when it comes to marriage, please understand that this is not only about giving birth. It is also about bearing children and caring for them,” Ruboneka said. 

She warned against being influenced by practices in some countries, saying what is being done elsewhere does not necessarily mean it could be good for Rwanda.

Emmanuel Ntambara, from the Ministry of Youth and ICT, said he did not entirely understand the idea of slashing marriage age.

 “Apart from the issues my colleagues have raised, let’s also consider the economic perspective. Has there been research to indicate that at 18, in this country, one is able to handle the economic needs of raising a family? A family has to survive. There are welfare issues to consider,” Ntambara said.

Others including Unicef’s Francois Mugabo, Sylvie Uwimbabazi, from the Ministry of Education, Jephthat Uwayo, from the Ministry of Health, and Christine Tuyisenge, from the National Women’s Council also objected to slashing marriage age. 

Jean Pierre Kayitare, the assistant Attorney General in charge of Legislation Drafting Services in the Ministry of Justice, told the session that government initiated the proposal to slash marriage age after considering significant issues highlighted in a 2005 study.

 However, legislators and civil society representatives challenged the study’s findings as outdated as it was conducted eight years ago.

The officials also had other various views on the Bill, including divorce, and dowry which many said should be a separate cultural aspect that should not be included in the legislation.

Source: NT (30/04/2013): http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15343&a=66434

KAMPALA: Workers urged on their rights

By Anita Imalingat.


Opposition party Forum for Democratic Change has called upon workers in the country to demand for better wages.

This comes ahead of the May 1 International Labour Day celebrations. Addressing journalists yesterday, Mr Francis Mwijukye, a member of the FDC national publicity commission, said workers should use this day to demand for better wages.

”The government always says there is no money to pay doctors, teachers and policemen, but we recently saw the President giving out money in sacks. Workers should ask the President where this money came from and also use this year’s Labour Day celebrations as platform to demand for better wages,” Mr Mwijukye said. He said moving with money in sacks is a clear indication that the government has the money to pay the workers but did not seem be a priority at the moment.

On the issue of minimum wage, Mr Mwijukye asked the government address the issue which is affecting many citizens. “Workers in Uganda are being exploited by their employers who tend to give them peanuts, and yet they over work them. We have no minimum wage and employers take advantage of that,” he said.

Source: Daily Monitor (30/04/2013): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Workers-urged-on-their-rights/-/688334/1762168/-/un49xt/-/index.html

INDIA: Fake jail for Gujarat encounter cop


It was Rajkumar Pandian's day out. The suspended IPS officer who has been arrested in two of the most sensitive fake encounters of Gujarat - Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati - was allowed to go home without any police escorts on Sunday night.

This nocturnal jaunt was caught on camera by a local news TV channel on Sunday. Before going home, he even spent some time at a government guest house in thewalled city and registered himself there.

Pandian was brought to Ahmedabad from Mumbai and was escorted by the Maharashtra police. The cops, arrested in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case have been shifted to the Taloja jail on the outskirts of Mumbai because the case will now be heard by the CBI court in Mumbai. However, the Tulsiram case is being heard in the CBI court in Ahmedabad for which Pandian and other accused are brought here often.

Ideally, the accused should be brought a day before the hearing and kept in judicial custody at the Sabarmati Central Jail. Before the court hearing, they are taken into custody by police escorts. In the sting operation, the nocturnal activities of Pandian are contrary to the specified norms for undertrial prisoners.

After the sting exposed the comforts accorded to Pandian, a CBI official said, "We have taken up the matter and have written a letter to the news channel. We have sought visuals of the sting operation."

The agency plans to report this matter to the court. The state government, however, seems to have washed its hands off the controversy. Home secretary S K Nanda said, "Gujarat Police has got no role to play in the entire issue. Pandian was brought from Mumbai by a team of the respective police force. They are in custody of Maharashtra jail and now Maharashtra police. The Gujarat police was in no way associated with the operation.He said that usually the police have to send the accused to jail when they bring them for a hearing. If the CBI court asks us whether the Sabarmati Central Jail was informed, we would clarify our stand. It is the responsibility of Mumbai police officialsto send the accused to jail."

The director general of police (DGP), Gujarat Amitabh Pathak has said, "This matter officially does not concern us," he said. "But since the news was being telecast by a news channel, we have taken a note of the matter and I have asked additional DGP (intelligence) Shivanand Jha to conduct and internal verification of the issue."

Source: Times of India (30/04/2013): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fake-jail-for-Gujarat-encounter-cop/articleshow/19793810.cms

84 suspects in Welsh child sex-abuse scandal: police

By AFP.


Investigators into claims of past abuse at 18 children's homes in Wales on Monday said they had uncovered evidence of "serious criminal offences" carried out by 84 suspects between 1963 and 1992.

Seventy-six new claimants have come forward to Operation Pallial investigators, making a total of 140 allegations of offences against boys and girls aged between seven and 19.

The independent investigation, set up by interior minister Theresa May, said claimants had identified a total of 84 suspects -- 75 male and nine female.

"Offenders quite rightly should have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their lives," said North Wales Chief Constable Mark Polin on publishing the report into the first phase of the probe.

"If you believe the passage of time will reduce the resolve of Operation Pallial or any police force to identify people who are still alive and to bring them to justice, you are sorely mistaken."

The report added: "Complainants have provided accounts of serious criminal offences committed against young and vulnerable people by adults charged with their care."

May launched the probe after the BBC aired a child-abuse investigation in the wake of the scandal surrounding former presenter Jimmy Savile, wrongly implicating former politician Alistair McAlpine in the affair.

The broadcaster ended up paying out £185,000 ($287,000, 219,000 euros) in damages to McAlpine.

The false allegations came as the BBC was under intense scrutiny over its earlier decision to spike a report about widespread claims against Savile, plunging the world's largest broadcaster into one of the worst crises in its history.

Keith Bristow, director-general of the National Crime Agency, is reviewing the original police investigations, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.

An inquiry was previously led by former High Court judge Ronald Waterhouse in the 1990s and reported its findings in 2000.

Following the inquiry, eight people were prosecuted and seven convicted.

Source: Daily Nation (30/04/2013): http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/84-suspects-in-Welsh-child-sex-abuse-scandal-police/-/1068/1762366/-/qu6var/-/index.html

Kercher murder case: Amanda Knox proclaims innocence


Amanda Knox - who is facing a retrial over the killing of Briton Meredith Kercher in Italy in 2007 - has gone on US television to protest her innocence.

In an ABC News interview to be aired later on Tuesday, Miss Knox says claims that she is a "she-devil" and "heartless manipulator" are all wrong.

"I'd like to be reconsidered as a person," the 25-year-old student from Seattle says.

Last month, an Italian court overturned her acquittal and ordered a retrial.

Her former Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, 29, will also face a new trial.

Meredith Kercher, 21, was found stabbed to death in the flat she shared with Miss Knox in Perugia in November 2007.


Prosecutors believe she died in a brutal sex game that went wrong.

Another man - Rudy Guede from Ivory Coast - was convicted in a separate trial and sentenced to 16 years for the killing.

The case has drawn intense media interest in Italy, the UK and the US, and put the Italian police and justice system under great scrutiny.

'Surreal'

"I was in the courtroom [in Italy] when they were calling me 'devil'," Miss Knox says in the ABC interview.

"It's one thing to be called certain things in the media and then it's another thing to be sitting in a courtroom, fighting for your life, while people are calling you a devil.

"For all intents and purposes, I was a murderer - whether I was or not. And I had to live with the idea that that would be my life."

She adds that what happened to her "was surreal but it could've happened to anyone".

The interview is timed to coincide with the release of Miss Knox's autobiography (Waiting to Be Heard), for which she was reportedly paid more than $4m (£2.5m), the BBC's David Willis in Washington reports.

In the book, she maintains that on the night of Meredith Kercher's death she was at Raffaele Sollecito's flat smoking marijuana and watching a movie.

The Italian courts cannot compel her to return for the retrial but they could request her extradition - at which point it would be up to the US authorities to determine her fate, our correspondent says.

Source: BBC News (30/04/2013): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22348419

GERMANY: NSU trial seats chosen via lottery system


The 50 press seats for the trial of an alleged neo-Nazi terrorist have been chosen via a court-run lottery system. Because the murder victims were of Turkish and Greek origin, both countries automatically received seats.

The trial of alleged neo-Nazi Beate Zschäpe was originally due to start earlier this month but was postponed to May 6 after Germany's top court ruled that the Munich court had to provide seats for foreign journalists. The allocation of seats included four for the Turkish press and one for the Greek media.

In the initial process, foreign journalists were not given any of the 50 seats, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.


The Turkish newspaper Sabah appealed to Germany's top court about the allocation of seats and a quota was implemented.

Turkey-based media that won seats include Al Jazeera's Istanbul bureau and the newspapers Sabah and Hurriyet. The Greek newspaper Evrensel will also be represented.

Major German dailies such as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung did not secure seats. News agencies Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France Presse also did not receive seats.

Süddeutsche Zeitung's weekend magazine has, however, gained a place at the trial, along with the weeklies Der Spiegel and Focus. German press agency DPA also won a lottery spot.

The German public broadcaster ARD, which works in connection with Deutsche Welle, among other media outlets, also received a seat.

Small and regional German media outlets secured many of the remaining spots.

The trial of the decade

The court will try Beate Zschäpe, the only surviving member a neo-Nazi cell, the National Socialist Underground (NSU).

The NSU is accused of murdering 10 people between 2000 and 2007 - eight of them with Turkish roots, a Greek locksmith and a German policewoman. The group was only uncovered in 2011.

Berlin has publicly apologized to the victims' families for the police detectives who failed to spot and connect clues of neo-Nazi involvement and for also treating the families as potential suspects during the investigations. 

Other suggestions included that the killings might have been linked to organized crime. The case either directly or indirectly led to leadership reshuffles in Germany's federal domestic intelligence agency - and in some of its regional branches.

Four others are also to stand trial for providing support to the NSU.

hc/kms (AFP, dpa)

Source: DW (30/04/2013): http://www.dw.de/nsu-trial-seats-chosen-via-lottery-system/a-16779747

European Union to ban bee-harming pesticides

The European Commission on Monday said it would impose a two-year ban on three pesticides believed to harm honeybees and to have caused their sharp decline in recent years. The ban will come into effect on December 1.


The European Commission said on Monday it would go ahead and impose a temporary ban on three of the world's most widely used pesticides because of fears they harm bees, despite EU governments failing to agree on the issue.

In a vote on Monday, EU officials could not decide whether to impose a two-year ban - with some exceptions - on a class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, produced mainly by Germany's Bayer and Switzerland's Syngenta.

The Commission proposed the ban in January after EU scientists said the chemicals posed an acute risk to honeybees, which pollinate many of the crops grown commercially in Europe. It said it would go ahead with partial restrictions anyway.

Pesticide manufacturers and some scientists say no link has been proven between the use of neonicotinoids and a sharp decline in bee numbers in Europe in recent years - a phenomenon known as "colony collapse disorder".

In total, 15 EU countries voted in favour - two more than the last time governments voted on the issue in March - but they failed to reach the weighted majority needed to adopt the ban outright, meaning the decision passed to the Commission.

"Since our proposal is based on a number of risks to bee health identified by the European Food Safety Authority, the Commission will go ahead with its text in the coming weeks," EU health commissioner Tonio Borg said after the vote.

The ban will apply to the use of neonicotinoids on all crops except winter cereals and plants not attractive to bees, such as sugar beet. It would apply from December 1, 2013 - five months later than originally proposed by the Commission.

Source: FRANCE 24 (29/04/2013): http://www.france24.com/en/20130429-european-commission-ban-pesticides-bees-eu

NEW DELHI: CBI's independent position must be restored: SC on coalgate

In a big embarrassment to the government in the coalgate case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday termed as "very disturbing" the CBI affidavit on sharing its report with the law minister and others and slammed the agency for having kept the court in the dark on the issue.

Hearing the coal blocks allocation scam case in a packed courtroom, the bench said "suppression" of the fact that CBI has shared its probe report with the government is "not ordinary".

A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha observed that there was a "very disturbing feature" in the affidavit filed on April 26 by CBI director Ranjit Sinha and the agency must be restored to its independent position.

Sinha, in his two page affidavit filed in the apex court, had said that the agency's status report on coal allocation scam was "shared" with law minister Ashwani Kumar and senior officials of PMO and coal ministry "as desired by them".

The apex court said that sharing of information with the government about the probe into the scam has "shaken the entire process" and CBI need not take instructions from "political masters" on their probe.

"Our first exercise will be to liberate CBI from political interference," the bench said.

In his affidavit, the CBI director had said, "I submit that the draft of the same (status report) was shared with law minister as desired by him prior to its submission before the Supreme Court. Besides the political executive, it was also shared with one joint secretary level officer each of Prime Minister's Office and ministry of coal as desired by them."

The CBI director had also assured the apex court that the agency will not share further status reports in this case with any member of the political executive.

Sinha's affidavit had contradicted the claim made by additional solicitor general Haren Raval on behalf of CBI on March 12 that the probe report in the scam has not been shared with any member of the government and it has only been shared with the apex court after being vetted by the CBI director.

The affidavit was filed in compliance with the Supreme Court's order which, in an unprecedented move on March 12, had directed the CBI director to assure the court that the status report in the coalgate scam is not being shared with the government.

Today's hearing came a day after Raval shot off a letter to attorney general G E Vahanvati in which he alleged that he has been made a "scapegoat" in the matter.

Raval is also believed to have accused Vahanvati of trying to interfere in CBI's probe report.

Earlier, the CBI and the Centre had clashed over the coalgate scam. The agency had told the court that there have been "arbitrary allotments without scrutiny" in the coal blocks allocation during the UPA-I tenure.

The government had refuted its findings saying that the "CBI is not the final word on this."

In the status report filed by CBI on March 8, the agency had said that the coal block allocation during 2006-09 was done without verifying the credentials of companies which allegedly misrepresented facts about themselves and no rationale was given by the coal ministry in giving coal blocks to them.

Source: Times of India (30/04/2013): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CBIs-independent-position-must-be-restored-SC-on-coalgate/articleshow/19797078.cms

Dar es Salaam: DPP to contest bail to accused in Dar collapsed building case

Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA.


THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) plans to challenge the ruling by the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court, granting bail to 11 people accused of manslaughter linked to a high-rise building that collapsed in Dar es Salaam recently.

The DPP, Dr Eliezer Feleshi, said the move was aimed at clearing the position of the legality of the decision by the magistrate to grant bail on matters beyond the court's jurisdiction.

"We might not have been aggrieved, but the prosecution wants to put things clear and straight," the DPP told the 'Daily News' here over the weekend. "There are decisions given by Court of Appeal in certain cases, which direct that all issues triable by the High court should be determined and settled by the same court.

We want to get the common position on all cases, other than murder, that are tried by the High Court," he said. Earlier this month, Senior Resident Magistrate Devota Kisoka granted bail to the accused persons charged with manslaughter having being persuaded by a High Court in 2008 on a similar matter.

In that case, the magistrate noted, the High Court ruled that lower courts have jurisdiction to grant bail on bailable offences that are triable by the Court. She, therefore, proceeded to grant bail the accused persons on conditions of securing two reliable sureties with identification letters that will be approved by the court.

According to the magistrate, each accused person was required to surrender their passports or any travel document to the police. She further ordered each accused not to leave the city without getting an express permission from the court.

The accused in the case are the owner of the building, Raza Hussein Ladha, 68, Goodluck Silvester Mbanga, 35, a resident of Mbezi Luis, Wilbroad Wilbard Mugyabuso, 42, who resides at Tandika and Ibrahim Mohamed, alias Kisoki, 59, a businessman who comes from Goba.

Others are Mohamed Swaburi Abdulkharim, 61, a businessman from Tabata, Charles Salu Ogera, 48, an engineer residing at Kinyerezi, Zonazea Anange Oushoudada, 60, a consulting engineer living at Ubungo and Vedasto Ferdinarnd Ruhola, 59, a quantity surveyor staying at Mbezi Kimara.

The rest are Michael Loth Hema, 59, an architect, residing at Kijitonyama, Albert Jonas Munuo, an assistant registrar with Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (AQRB). They were arraigned for the first time to answer 24 counts of negligence and manslaughter on April 3, 2013.

They were not allowed to enter any plea to the charges because the case will be tried by the High Court. The defence had forcefully requested the court to grant them bail, alleging that it was their basic right. They cited Section 148 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), which empower the court to do so.

But the prosecution had objected to the request, submitting that the matter has been prematurely brought to the court as investigations on the case have not been completed and the DPP has not filed any information regarding the case at the High Court. Reading the charges, Senior State Attorney Bernard Kongola told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 29, this year, along Indira Ghandi Street in Ilala District in the City.

The accused are alleged to have unlawfully killed Yusuph Mohamed Shafiq Khari, Kulwa Khalfan, Hamada Mussa, Kessy Ally Manjapa, Hamis Zuberi Mkomwa, Boniface Bernard, Suhail Ally Mohamed Karim, Salman Salim Akbar, Seleman Haji, Seleman Mtego, Sikudhani Mohamed and Ahmed Salum Mirambo.

Others killed in the shocking incident were Salum Issa Mapunda, Selemani Rashid Mnyani, John Mtyani Majewa, Mussa Ally Munyamani, David Severin Helman, William Joackim, Abdulhaman Othman Mwiha, Emanuel Christian, Mmanyi Jumanne Ngadula, Advai Mpinge Desiki, Emanuel Grayson Wahai and Augustino Kanisius Chuma.

Source: Daily News (29/04/2013): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/16876-dpp-to-contest-bail-to-accused-in-dar-collapsed-building-case

Dar es Salaam: Interpol, No arrest yet of Alex Massawe


By Frank Kimboy, The Citizen Reporter.

Interpol Tanzania has dismissed reports circulating in sections of the social media suggesting that their counterparts in South Africa have arrested a Tanzania fugitive, Mr Alex Massawe.

Mr Massawe, a Dar es Salaam-based businessman, is said to have fled the country to avoid arrest over several criminal offences he is alleged to have committed. He is, for instance, alleged of being connected to a murder case facing another city businessman, Mr Abubakar Marijani, alias Papaa Msofe.

Some subscribers in one of the social media networks yesterday posted a thread which suggests that Interpol in South Africa seized Mr Massawe, who is alleged to have fled the country on a boat, in a bid to evade possible arraignment.

However, when contacted for confirmation, the head of Interpol in Tanzania, Mr Gustav Babile, brushed off the reports.

“We haven’t received any information regarding the said arrest of Mr Alex Massawe; so, as far as I am concerned, the reports are not true,” said Mr Babile in a telephone interview with The Citizen.

Apparently, Mr Babile was also contacted by officers from the criminal investigations office yesterday, who made inquiries on Mr Massawe.

“The rumours have spread fast because people from the DCI Office have also inquired on the same today,” said the Dar es Salaam Interpol chief.

A search by The Citizen showed that the Interpol Tanzania website does not include Mr Massawe in its ‘red notice’ Wanted list. The list carries only a single name – that of a Zanzibari who is being sought over a murder.

Mr Babile did not say whether Interpol was looking for Mr Massawe. Our efforts to get the police to give details on the matter did not bear fruit.

Mr Marijani a.k.a. Papaa Msofe, whose alleged association with Mr Masawe explains the latter’s purported disappearance, has been arraigned over the murder of fellow businessman Onesphory Kituly in November last year.

Papaa Msofe and the deceased were at loggerheads over a parcel of prime land in Mikocheni in the city, a dispute dating back to 2007.

Mr Massawe has also been on suspicion of funding armed robbery gangs in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. He is also suspected of purchasing stolen goods that criminals acquire.

In 2006, the Dar es Salaam Kisutu Resident Magistrate declared Mr Massawe as ‘a very dangerous’ man to the society, charging that he finances and protects armed robbers.

His was among 50 names of ‘dangerous people to the community’ which was submitted to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Saidi Mwema shortly after he took office in 2006. However, the names were soon trimmed to two following further police investigations.

Mr Massawe, who among other businesses, owns hotels in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha, was put under police surveillance for one year.

Under the order, Mr Massawe surrendered his passport and other important documents to the police.

Source: The Citizen (29/04/2013): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/-/30956--interpol-no-arrest-yet-of-alex-massawe

Nairobi: CJ Mutunga denies bribery claims during Raila's petition

By Nation Reporter.


Chief Justice Willy Mutunga took to the social media on Monday morning to deny claims that he was bribed during Raila Odinga's presidential petition by against election of President Uhuru Kenyatta

Dr Mutunga, in a statement, said he has never been bribed and urged Kenyans to show respect to members of the Judiciary.

In a facebook posting titled "The Judicairy demands justice from Kenyans", the Chief Justice said allegations of bribery during the petition caused him anguish, and he could have personally arrested whoever attempted to do so.

"For me the most hurtful allegation was that I had been bribed in the Presidential Petition. I did not know where to turn. I have never been offered a bribe in my life. I have no doubt in my mind that anybody who dares offer me a bribe, regardless of status, would be the first one I arrest under the Constitution and the laws of this land," said Dr Mutunga.

In his posting, the Chief Justice recounted instances on social media in which members of the Judiciary were targets of public vitriol.

Dr Mutunga additionally urged Kenyans to treat members of the Judiciary with fairness.

"Recently the Judiciary, and particularly the Supreme Court, has been the target of attacks from Kenyans. We have been the target of attacks, slander, libel, and outright indecent, vulgar, and unacceptable abuses.

"All I can demand from Kenyans is justice that they demand of me and the Judiciary I head. We must give justice to each other in implementing our progressive Constitution.

"I acknowledge that public service means accountability to Kenyans. However, the same Constitution Kenyans use to demand accountability of us, and they invoke it for the protection of their freedom of speech, and for their right to public participation, also demands justice for judges and magistrates. The Constitution does not decree that Kenyans are not accountable for their actions!

"I urge Kenyans to give us justice! To do so is simple. If you have any evidence of our wrong doing the Constitution under its Article 168 allows you to petition the Judicial Service Commission for our removal. And if you do not have such evidence then give us justice, treat us as family, compatriots and fellow human beings!" said Dr Mutunga's posting.

Last Wednesday, the Chief Justice fired a fiery tweet at his critics, telling them to distinguish him as an individual and the Supreme Court

Dr Mutunga, by being the Chief Justice, is the President of the Supreme Court that rejected a presidential election petition by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga that challenged the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In its judgement, the Supreme Court said Mr Odinga failed to prove that Mr Kenyatta did not get the required votes to qualify as President-elect. 

In the 113-page detailed judgement, the court said that it considered all the evidence presented by Mr Odinga and his co-petitioners in the matter and concluded that the evidence did not warrant nullification of Mr Kenyatta’s victory.

On Tuesday a Kenyan activist and a US scholar told a forum held in Washington that the judgement rendered by the Supreme Court damaged to its credibility. 

Maina Kiai, head of a civil society organisation in Nairobi, and Joel Barkan, a US think tank expert on African governance issues, both suggested that the court should have ordered a runoff between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

Source: Daily Nation (29/04/2013): http://www.nation.co.ke/News/CJ-Mutunga-denies-bribery-claims-during-Railas-petition/-/1056/1761342/-/7h5e2g/-/index.html

Nairobi: CJ Mutunga denies bribery claims during Raila's petition

By Nation Reporter.


Chief Justice Willy Mutunga took to the social media on Monday morning to deny claims that he was bribed during Raila Odinga's presidential petition by against election of President Uhuru Kenyatta

Dr Mutunga, in a statement, said he has never been bribed and urged Kenyans to show respect to members of the Judiciary.

In a facebook posting titled "The Judicairy demands justice from Kenyans", the Chief Justice said allegations of bribery during the petition caused him anguish, and he could have personally arrested whoever attempted to do so.

"For me the most hurtful allegation was that I had been bribed in the Presidential Petition. I did not know where to turn. I have never been offered a bribe in my life. I have no doubt in my mind that anybody who dares offer me a bribe, regardless of status, would be the first one I arrest under the Constitution and the laws of this land," said Dr Mutunga.

In his posting, the Chief Justice recounted instances on social media in which members of the Judiciary were targets of public vitriol.

Dr Mutunga additionally urged Kenyans to treat members of the Judiciary with fairness.

"Recently the Judiciary, and particularly the Supreme Court, has been the target of attacks from Kenyans. We have been the target of attacks, slander, libel, and outright indecent, vulgar, and unacceptable abuses.

"All I can demand from Kenyans is justice that they demand of me and the Judiciary I head. We must give justice to each other in implementing our progressive Constitution.

"I acknowledge that public service means accountability to Kenyans. However, the same Constitution Kenyans use to demand accountability of us, and they invoke it for the protection of their freedom of speech, and for their right to public participation, also demands justice for judges and magistrates. The Constitution does not decree that Kenyans are not accountable for their actions!

"I urge Kenyans to give us justice! To do so is simple. If you have any evidence of our wrong doing the Constitution under its Article 168 allows you to petition the Judicial Service Commission for our removal. And if you do not have such evidence then give us justice, treat us as family, compatriots and fellow human beings!" said Dr Mutunga's posting.

Last Wednesday, the Chief Justice fired a fiery tweet at his critics, telling them to distinguish him as an individual and the Supreme Court

Dr Mutunga, by being the Chief Justice, is the President of the Supreme Court that rejected a presidential election petition by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga that challenged the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In its judgement, the Supreme Court said Mr Odinga failed to prove that Mr Kenyatta did not get the required votes to qualify as President-elect. (READ: Supreme Court releases judgment on presidential petition)

In the 113-page detailed judgement, the court said that it considered all the evidence presented by Mr Odinga and his co-petitioners in the matter and concluded that the evidence did not warrant nullification of Mr Kenyatta’s victory.

On Tuesday a Kenyan activist and a US scholar told a forum held in Washington that the judgement rendered by the Supreme Court damaged to its credibility. 

Maina Kiai, head of a civil society organisation in Nairobi, and Joel Barkan, a US think tank expert on African governance issues, both suggested that the court should have ordered a runoff between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

Source: Daily Nation (29/04/2013): http://www.nation.co.ke/News/CJ-Mutunga-denies-bribery-claims-during-Railas-petition/-/1056/1761342/-/7h5e2g/-/index.html

Florida teenager's shooter faces deadline in court


Prosecutors in Florida want George Zimmerman to state publicly at a court hearing on Tuesday whether he will pursue his immunity defense in the 2012 shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin on the basis of the state's "Stand Your Ground" law, or waive his right to use it.

Prosecutors asked Judge Debra Nelson in a motion to remind Zimmerman "that should defendant in fact wish to waive any pre-trial immunity challenge under this statute, he may not attempt to do so later, particularly once trial has commenced."

Zimmerman will attend Tuesday's hearing, according to his lawyer, Mark O'Mara. However, O'Mara told Reuters he hadn't decided what he will do if the judge tries to question his client.

"I know the state would like to have that information, it seems. I don't feel compelled to advise anybody of my strategy in this case," O'Mara said.

Zimmerman goes on trial June 10 on a second-degree murder charge for shooting Martin after prosecutors say he profiled and confronted the unarmed black teenager, despite a police dispatcher instructing him not to do so.

Zimmerman, 29, was a neighborhood watch volunteer at the time and Martin was walking back to a town home in the gated community in Sanford, Florida, with snacks to eat while watching a televised basketball game in February last year.

O'Mara has talked publicly about pursuing immunity for Zimmerman under Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" statute, which bars prosecution of someone who is in fear of his life and shoots rather than retreats. O'Mara canceled a scheduled hearing earlier this month to make the case, but told Reuters he believes he has the right to raise the immunity defense at any time during the trial.

"If you can convince someone, a judge, by preponderance of evidence that you acted in self defense, then you're immune, and that can happen however it happens," O'Mara said.

Prosecutors want to pin Zimmerman down on the record over waiving his right to pursue immunity in order to pre-empt the possibility that he might try to revive it after trial if he is found guilty, according to the motion. O'Mara said it would be difficult to raise the issue post-conviction.

Nelson also will hear a defense request to unseal a settlement between Martin's parents and the homeowner's association at The Retreat at Twin Lakes subdivision where Martin was killed.

The association's insurance company at one point offered its policy limit of $1 million to the family, according to correspondence between the insurance company and association attached to the motion. The defense argues that the jury should be able to consider the financial interest of potential witnesses in the case.

(Editing by David Adams and Christopher Wilson).

Source: REUTERS (29/04/2013): http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/29/us-usa-florida-shooting-idUSBRE93S0B920130429

Uganda: Guard arrested over the killing of MTN boss

By JOHNSON MAYAMBA.


A guard attached to a private security group has been arrested in connection with the murder of an employee of MTN in Mukono, two weeks ago.

Bosco Ogwang, according to police was an employee of Security Uganda Limited.

He allegedly killed Meddie Tamale, who was the head of MTN Mukono Branch.

In an extra judicial statement recorded before Magistrate Mackay Opolot at Mukono Court, Ogwang admitted to have killed Tamale with the intention of robbing money from him.

Daily Monitor has seen the statement.

In the statement, Ogwang narrates that on April 16, 2013, he was enraged after failing to secure monetary support from his employer to seek medical attention.

Ogwang adds in the statement that he had only Shs20, 000 which was not enough to transport him to Lira to get the medical attention.

Stuck, Ogwang says in the statement, that he decided to ambush Tamale, whom he knew always went home with company money after work.

"I then moved on foot to Seeta because I knew where he used to go every evening. I waited for him. When I saw his car coming, I waved to him to stop but instead he made an alarm that was attracting attention from boda boda men. I then made up my mind to shoot him," Ogwang’s extra judicial statement reads.

He, however, found only a standard phone (Kabiriiti) and company documents in Tamale’s bag.

The suspect says he hid his uniform and gun and travelled to Kapalang in Lira District from where he was tracked by police via Tamale’s phone.

He faces charges of aggravated robbery and murder.

Source: Daily Monitor (29/04/2013): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Guard-arrested-over-the-killing-of-MTN-boss/-/688334/1761658/-/14mexd6z/-/index.html

Egypt's President Morsi seeks compromise with judges


The Egyptian president and top judges have agreed to find a compromise over Islamist attempts to force out thousands of judges. The government's initial plan would have lowered the mandatory age of retirement.

Allies of President Mohamed Morsi had proposed legislation to remove more than 3,000 judges by reducing the age of retirement from 70 to 60 years. The move would get rid of judges who had been appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak.

But after three hours of talks on Sunday, the president's office and the Supreme Judicial Council said a conference would be held on the future of the justice system to work out a reform acceptable to both sides. After the meeting, opponents of the proposed law canceled protests set for Monday.

The conciliation would appear to be a climbdown by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood backers. A spokesman for the president said, in a televised statement, that the president praised the idea of the justice conference, adding that preparatory sessions would be started on Tuesday. The president would "personally adopt all the conclusions of this conference in draft laws and present them to the legislative council," the spokesman said.
The announcement for a justice conference effectively shelves the law on retiring judges for now.

The Brotherhood accuses many judges of being left over from the previous regime and of abusing their position to obstruct elections and laws proposed by bodies elected since the uprising. The judges are also accused of blocking efforts to bring corrupt former officials to justice.

From the other side, the Brotherhood is accused of trying to monopolise power by purging independent judges, thus making way for their own men.

Opponents and supporters of the bill to reduce the age of judges were involved in street clashes in the capital nine days ago. Thousands of judges met last week and called on international organizations to investigate. 

The dispute also prompted the resignations of top aides and advisers to the presidency.

IMF negotiator

Separately, a key Egyptian negotiator with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Sunday he had resigned as first deputy finance minister. Hany Kadry Dimian has been the crucial point man in Egypt's negotiations for a 3.7 billion euro ($4.8 billion) loan it needs for its troubled economy. "The only comment I can make for the time being is that yes, my term ends on April 30 according to my resignation, which I submitted in December," Kadry told the Reuters news agency by telephone. "My next move is not decided," he added.

jm/ch (Reuters, AP)

Source: DW (29/04/2013): http://www.dw.de/egypts-president-morsi-seeks-compromise-with-judges/a-16777867

NEW DELHI: SC seeks CBI's response on Jaganmohan Reddy's bail plea


The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to CBI seeking its response on the bail plea of YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy in a disproportionate assets case.

A bench headed by Justice P Sathasivam asked the agency to file its response and posted the case for hearing on May 6.

Jaganmohan has moved the apex court challenging the Andhra Pradesh high court's January 24 order refusing to grant him bail in the case.

Jaganmohan, who was arrested on May 27, last year by CBI on corruption charges, is presently under judicial custody and is lodged at the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.

In October last year, the apex court had dismissed Reddy's bail plea in the case.

While dismissing the bail application, the apex court had said that the petitioner was open to renew his bail before the trial court "on completion of the investigation by CBI" on certain aspects.

CBI had told the court that it would be filing a final charge sheet on Sandur Power, Bharati/Raghuram Cements, Dalmia Cements, India Cements and Kolkata-based suitcase companies allegedly sending money into Reddy's companies including Lepakshi knowledge hub project and Indu Projects.

The agency has filed several charge sheets against Jaganmohan, an MP from Kadapa, and others.

It has accused him and his late father and the then Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy of hatching a conspiracy to defraud the government. According to it, Jaganmohan allegedly influenced his father in doling out certain favours to various players, who made investments of several crores of rupees into his businesses as a quid pro quo.

Several ministers, who had also served in YSR Reddy's cabinet, and officials are under CBI's scanner for allegedly issuing controversial orders, allotting land, granting mining licences and other favours to various companies promoted by Jaganmohan.

Source: Times of India (29/04/2013): http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-seeks-CBIs-response-on-Jaganmohan-Reddys-bail-plea/articleshow/19780263.cms

Iraq watchdog suspends 10 TV channels for inciting violence


Iraq has suspended the licenses of satellite news network Al Jazeera and nine other channels, accusing them of inciting violence through their coverage of recent sectarian clashes.

The Communication and Media Commission (CMC) regulator criticized their reporting of violence triggered by a security forces raid on a Sunni Muslim protest camp in Hawija on Tuesday.

None of the channels was immediately available for comment.

More than 170 people have been killed in the fighting - the worst Iraq has seen since Sunnis started staging protests in December to complain about their treatment by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led government.

The watchdog said sectarian language used in the reports encouraged "criminal acts of revenge by attacking the security forces".

"The CMC sees in the speech and content propagated by the channels...an incitement and escalation which leans towards misleading and exaggeration more than towards objectivity," the watchdog said in a statement published on Sunday.

Most of the channels, including local stations such as "Baghdad" and "al-Sharqiya", are pro-Sunni and often critical of the Shi'ite-led government. Al Jazeera is based in Qatar, a Sunni-ruled kingdom.

The watchdog is powerless to stop the channels broadcasting, but may make it harder for their local staff to cover events.

Media rights group the Iraqi Journalistic Freedoms Observatory said the CMC was biased, as some officials in the body had been appointed by the government.

"We do not deny there is an incitement to violence by some media outlets, but we consider the suspension of licenses of 10 satellite channels a blow for democracy," the Observatory's Executive Director Ziyad al-Ajili told Reuters.

Last June, the CMC ordered the closure of 44 media outlets including the BBC and Voice of America. It does not have the power to stop them broadcasting from overseas.

Violence, including bomb attacks that have killed dozens of people at a time, has increased across Iraq this year. Provisional figures from rights group Iraq Body Count indicate about 1,365 people have been killed so far in 2013.

(Reporting by Aseel Kami; Editing by Isabel Coles and Angus MacSwan)

Source: REUTERS (28/04/2013): http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/28/us-iraq-media-idUSBRE93R06B20130428

Owner of collapsed Bangladesh garment factory building arrested


The owner of the factory building that collapsed in Bangladesh, killing hundreds of people, has been arrested. Meanwhile fears that the death toll could rise sharply persist with 900 people still missing.

Mohammed Sohel Rana was arrested Sunday trying to flee to India, police said. News of the arrest by the elite Rapid Action Battalion was met with cheers and claps when it was announced over the loudspeaker at the site of the building collapse in the Dhaka suburb of Savar.

At least 362 people are confirmed to have died in the accident, which occurred when the eight-story structure collapsed on Wednesday.

Rana, the leader of the ruling Awami League's youth front, was last seen in public in front of Rana Plaza after huge cracks appeared in the structure. He assured his tenants, however, that the building was safe. A bank and some shops on the first floor closed after police ordered the structure evacuated, but managers of the five garment factories upstairs told their workers to continue their shifts.

Hundreds unaccounted for

Many of the garment factory workers were trapped under the rubble when the building collapsed. A garment manufacturer's group estimated that 3,122 workers were employed at the building, but it is unclear how many were present when it collapsed. So far an estimated 2,500 people have been accounted for.

Four people were pulled out of the rubble alive on Sunday, and rescuers are continuing their frantic search for more survivors.

"The chances of finding people alive are dimming, so we have to step up our rescue operation to save any valuable life we can," said Major General Chowdhury Hassan Sohrawardi, coordinator of the operation site.

Wednesday's factory collapse is the worst ever disaster for Bangladesh's garment industry, a key part of the country's economy worth an estimated $20 billion (15.3 billion euros) annually. The incident, as well as one at a garment factory five months ago that killed 112 people, has raised concerns over safety standards in the industry. Officials say that Rana Plaza was built on spongy ground without correct permits and three of its floors were constructed illegally.

dr/mkg (Reuters, AP)

Source: DW (28/04/2013): http://www.dw.de/owner-of-collapsed-bangladesh-garment-factory-building-arrested/a-16777402

Italy gunman 'targeted politicians' in Rome shooting


A gunman who shot and seriously injured two policemen outside the Italian PM's office in Rome was acting out of anger at politicians, prosecutors allege.

A suspect named as 49-year-old Luigi Preiti was arrested at the scene.

Rome prosecutor, Pierfilippo Laviani, said the gunman had hoped to target politicians but as he was unable to, he shot the police officers instead.

The attack came as a new government was sworn in across the city at the Quirinale Palace.

Democratic Party Deputy Leader (PD), Enrico Letta, 46, becomes prime minister at the head of a "grand coalition" including Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party (PDL).

'Isolated act'

Mr Preiti was reported to be an unemployed man from the southern region of Calabria with no criminal record.


The Ansa news agency said the gunman, dressed in a dark business suit, fired several shots outside the Chigi palace, about a kilometre (mile) away from the Quirinale and had acted alone.

There had been earlier reports that the gunman may have suffered mental problems.

Ansa quoted Mr Preiti's brother as saying that Mr Preiti suffered no such disorders and that the family was shocked at what had happened.

The agency reported that Mr Preiti had separated from his wife, with whom he has a son.

Prosecutor Pierfilippo Laviani said Mr Preiti had "lost his job, he had lost everything".

"He has confessed everything. He doesn't seem to be a deranged individual," Mr Laviani said.


The new Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said it appeared the shooting was an "isolated act" and that there were no concerns for "the general situation of public order in the country".

The most seriously hurt police officer was named as Giuseppe Giangrande, who suffered neck or spinal injuries and is being treated at the Policlinico Umberto.

The second officer was also seriously hurt, with a leg wound, while a pregnant woman who was passing by was slightly injured.

Mr Preiti was being treated at a separate hospital.

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno said shortly after the shooting: "It's not an act of terrorism but certainly the [political] climate of the past few months has not helped."

Italy had been in political deadlock since February's general election. A new government was agreed on Saturday.

Correspondents say the new "grand coalition" between Italy's current main right- and left-wing parties is unprecedented, and will probably prove an uneasy alliance.

Mr Berlusconi will not be a minister but Mr Alfano, the PDL secretary and one of Mr Berlusconi's closest political allies, is the deputy PM as well as interior minister.

Bank of Italy director general Fabrizio Saccomanni heads the powerful economy ministry and Emma Bonino is foreign minister.

The third strongest force to emerge from the Italian election, the Five Star movement led by former comedian, Beppe Grillo, has refused to take part in a coalition.

The country is still plagued by economic woes after becoming one of the first eurozone victims of the global financial crisis of 2008.

Source: BBC News (28/04/2013): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22330952


TANZANIA: More than 40 illegal immigrants arrested, charged in Mwanza

Written by MOSES MATTHEW in Mwanza.


 A TOTAL of 42 illegal immigrants in Mwanza Region have been arraigned in court for staying in the country illegally and in some cases, some few were ordered to legalise their status.

The Mwanza Regional Immigration Officer, Ms Anna Yondani told the ‘Sunday News’ in Mwanza city  that 42 illegal immigrants have been nabbed for the period of January to April, this year. “Those who were charged at the court are from Congo-DRC, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cameroon, America and India,” she said.

She said that among those who were arraigned were 10 women and 32 men, adding that regional immigration offices continue with efforts to control this influx. She added that the alleged illegal immigrants have changed the system of entering the country, after the government recently introduced a new tight system to control illegal immigrants.

She noted that the lake zone regions have become a new route used by the illegal immigrants who have been arriving from Kenya using Sirari border through Tarime, Mwanza Region to Mbeya where it is easy for them to cross to Zambia and Malawi up to South Africa.

Source: Daily News (28/04/2013): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/16846-more-than-40-illegal-immigrants-arrested-charged-in-mwanza

Mississippi man linked to ricin letters charged with biological weapons use

By Robbie Ward.


A Mississippi martial arts instructor was charged on Saturday with attempting to use a biological weapon after a ricin-laced letter was sent to President Barack Obama earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Everett Dutschke, 41, was arrested at his Tupelo home shortly after midnight by FBI agents following searches of the residence and a former business as part of the ricin letter investigation.

He was later charged with "developing ... and possessing" ricin and "attempting" to use it "as a weapon," according to a joint statement by the U.S. attorney for the northern district of Mississippi and the head of the FBI's Mississippi office.

Ricin is a highly lethal poison made from castor beans.

If convicted, Dutschke faces maximum possible penalties of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

His arrest came several days after U.S. prosecutors dropped charges in the case on Tuesday against another Mississippi man, Kevin Curtis, who was released from jail after a search of his home revealed no incriminating evidence.

Dutschke's name first surfaced when Curtis' attorney suggested in a court hearing that her client had been framed by someone, and mentioned a running feud between Dutschke and Curtis.

Saturday's announcement did not specify if Dutschke was being charged in relation to the ricin letters, but it noted that the investigation had been conducted by several federal agencies including the U. S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police.

Dutschke's attorney, Lori Basham, did not return calls seeking comment, but she told Reuters earlier in the week that her client denied having anything to do with the ricin letters.

Dutschke is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Oxford, Mississippi, on Monday.

Federal agents initially targeted Curtis, an Elvis impersonator, in their efforts to find who sent the letters laced with ricin.

Letters addressed to Obama and Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, were retrieved last week at off-site mail facilities before reaching their intended victims. A Mississippi state judge also received a ricin-laced letter.

Discovery of the letters fueled more national anxiety in the days after the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

The case also brought extra scrutiny for the FBI almost 12 years after a 2001 letter-borne anthrax attack that killed five people and puzzled investigators for years. The anthrax investigation came in the wake of the September 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks on the United States.

Federal agents in unmarked vehicles were stationed in streets surrounding Dutschke's home on Friday afternoon and all evening.

Agents from the FBI and members of an anti-terrorist response team from the Mississippi National Guard, some wearing hazardous material suits, had searched the home on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the premises of a former martial arts studio Dutschke ran in the city.

Dutschke was cooperating with federal officials during the searches this week, his attorney said.

'MISSING PIECES'

Suspicion had originally fallen on Curtis because of wording contained in all three ricin letters, which included his initials "KC."

Dutschke has told local media that he knew Curtis but had only had contact with him three times, and not since 2010.

Curtis, 45, told the Northeastern Mississippi Daily Journal that he believed Dutschke deliberately sabotaged his career as a performer by calling sponsors and telling them about Curtis' numerous prior arrests. "I lost 12 really big shows in 2011 and eight in 2012 directly linked to him," Curtis told the newspaper.

Dutschke, who fronted a two-man blues band in Tupelo called RoboDrum, ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate in 2007 against Stephen Holland, a Democratic state representative from the Tupelo area. Holland's mother, Sadie, is the judge to whom one of the ricin-tainted letters was mailed this month.

Curtis's brother and fellow Elvis impersonator, insurance agent Jack Curtis, worked for a time with Dutschke and said he believed the feud with Dutschke was related to his brother's efforts to publicize allegations about a black market for body parts at a local Mississippi hospital.

Kevin Curtis was fired as a janitor from North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo after raising questions about body parts he said he observed there. The hospital strongly denied the allegations.

Dutschke faces other charges related to an April 1 indictment for fondling three children between ages 7 and 16, from 2007 to 2013, according to court records.

RICIN POTENCY

The FBI said on Thursday that more tests may be necessary to determine the potency of a granular material identified as ricin contained in the letters.

An FBI agent testified in court in Mississippi that the ricin found in the letters was in a crude form and looked like castor beans ground up in a blender, according to media accounts. Experts have said ricin in that form would have a low potency.

Castor bean plants are grown as ornamental shrubs in the Southern United States, but there is no domestic castor oil production and it is mostly imported from India and China.

Milton Leitenberg, senior research scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at the University of Maryland, said the vast majority of ricin cases since the 1960s had involved crude ricin preparations made from recipes published in manuals and on the Internet.

"You could ingest this crude stuff, swallow a couple of tablespoons and you'd probably vomit, but not much more," Leitenberg said in a telephone interview.

A material like that described in the ricin court hearing would pose little danger, Leitenberg said.

(Additional reporting by Emily Lane in Jackson, Mississippi, Marilyn W. Thompson and Susan Cornwell in Washingon; Writing by David Adams; Editing by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)

Source: REUTERS (28/04/2013): http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/27/us-usa-security-ricin-arrest-idUSBRE93Q07420130427

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