Former Tanesco boss denies wife in court

Former TANESCO managing director William Mhando denied legality of his marital status to Eva Mhando before Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday, stating he never married her.

Muhando denied his co-accused in his preliminary plea after the prosecution led by State Attorney Leonard Swai from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) alleged before resident Magistrate, Frank Moshi, that Mhando being employed by the company as Managing Director committed the offence between December 1 and 31, 2011. 

The wife and three other people yesterday appeared at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam to answer charges of abuse of position and occasioning loss of Sh884.5m.

Mhando is charged together with his wife, Eva Mhando who is the Managing Director of Santa Clara Supplies Company Ltd, and Tanesco employees France Mchalange, Sophia Misidai and Naftali Kisinga.

The former Tanesco boss and three other employees are charged with abuse of position and occasioning loss of Sh884.5m while his wife faces charges of forgery, uttering false document and obtaining money by false pretences.

It was alleged that when executing his duties Mhando intentionally abused his position by failure to declare interest over Santa Clara Supplies Company Limited, whose directors are his wife and children.

The prosecutor said Mhando, using his influence, made it possible for his wife’s company to be awarded a contract to supply stationeries worth Sh884,550,000 to Tanesco.

By so doing, Mhando violated the Tanesco Code of Ethics and Conduct and the Public Leadership Code of Ethics by allowing Santa Clara Supplies Company Ltd undue advantage of Sh31,747,000.

On the second count it was alleged that between January 6 and July 30, 2011 at unknown place in Dar es Salaam the accused. Eva Mhando, with intent to defraud, forged an audited financial report of Santa Clara Supplies Company for the year 2007/08 purporting to show that Finx Capital House audited the balance sheet of the company while knowing the facts were forged.

Eva is also alleged to forge a transfer of shares and purported to show she transferred her 200 ordinary shares of Sh10,000 in undertaking the so called Santa Clara Supplies Company Ltd to Eveta John Shing’oma.

Swai further alleged that between October 1and 31, 2011 Mhando’s wife being the Managing Director of Santa Clara Supplies Company with intent to obtain Sh31,747,000 from Tanesco submitted false documents such as audited financial report for 2007/8, and list of major contracts the company entered with different firms in two years to the Secretary of TANESCO tender board.

The prosecutor said that on October 17, 2011, the accused Mchalange, Msindai and Kisinga being employed by Tanesco as Principal Accountant, Principal Accountant and Supplies Officer respectively and being members of the evaluation committee for tender number PA /001/11/HQ/G/011 gave false information to the tender board in favour of Eva’s company, the decision that was approved by Tanesco Managing Director.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and they are out on bail after meeting the bail conditions.

The court ordered them to secure two liable sureties who would each sign a bond of Sh8m. The court also barred them from travelling outside Dar es Salaam without the court’s permission.

Swai informed the court that investigations into the case are complete. The case will come up for preliminary hearing on June 13, this year.  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN