Dar es Salaam: Five appear in court over armed robbery of 400m/-

STANBIC Bank Mayfair Branch Manager, Celestina Mkumbo (46) and four others yesterday appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court charged with conspiracy and armed robbery of over 400m/-.

Before Principal Resident Magistrate, Mr Isaya Arufani, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges. They remained in custody because bail does not apply to those charged with armed robbery.

The prosecution, led by State Attorney Janeth Kitali, informed the court that investigations into the matter have not been completed.

Other accused persons in the trial are Richard Gullo Otieno (37) from Kisumu, Fransis Nditu (39) of Nairobi, Jumanne Sadick Lema (40) from Gongo la Mboto and Anastazia Frank Ringo (46) of Jet lumo who is also the cash custodian at the bank.

The prosecution alleged before the court that at unknown time and place in Dar es Salaam, the accused persons conspired to commit an offence.

According to the prosecution, on October 23, this year, at Stanbic Bank, Mayfair Branch, in Kinondoni District, the accused persons allegedly stole 186,500,000/-, 175,000 US dollars, 1900 pounds and 260,000 Euros, property of the bank.

Before and during the theft, the accused persons threatened bank officials in order to obtain and retain the said money.

The accused persons Richard, Fransis and Jumanne had requested the court to grant them permission so that they get medical treatment, because they were badly injured due to police beating.

“We have been detained for 19 days and badly injured, when we requested the police station to let us seek treatment they refused,” said the accused persons.

Magistrate Arufani allowed Richard and Fransis to be given treatment, according to the law. The magistrate adjourned the matter to May 15.

Source: Daily News