Dar es Salaam: Hassanoo case adjourned again

BY KARAMA KENYUNKO

Coast Region Football Association chairman Hassan Othman ‘Hassanoo’ and five others, who are allegedly linked with involvement of ivory trade, have their case adjourned to December 20 by the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

The prosecution led by State Attorney Shadrack Kimaro informed the resident magistrate Ritha Tariimo who presides over the case that the investigation into the case is not complete.

Hassanoo and his colleagues were arraigned and charged with three counts, including conspiracy, leading an organised crime and unlawfully dealing with trophies.

Magistrate Tarimo adjourned the case for seven days when it comes for mention and the accused remain in custody and denied bail in accordance with the gravity and nature of the alleged offence. 

Besides Hassanoo, other accused are Ally Kimwaga, Dustan Mwanga, Godfrey Mwanga, John Mlai and Khalid Fazaldin.

According to the charge sheet, it was alleged that between September 1 and November 20, this year in Dar es Salaam and Hong Kong the accused allegedly conspired to commit an offence of dealing with trophy business without license.

On the second count it was alleged that on the same date and place the accused intentionally organised, managed, supervised and financed a criminal network to carry a business of trophy without dealers’ license by exporting 569 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 1,330 kilograms worth 1,185,030,000/- to Hong Kong.

On the third count it was alleged that willfully and unlawfully the accused allegedly carried the business of trophy dealing without trophy dealers’ license by exporting elephant 569 pieces of elephant tusks of the same weight and amount to Hong Kong.

Hassanoo used to serve as an official of Simba Sports Club of Dar es Salaam and has a strong link with Ruvu Shooting, another Mainland top flight side competing in the ongoing football premiership.

Meanwhile, hearing of bail request of the accused presented by advocate Richard Rweyongeza in the three-count case of ‘Hassanoo’ and five others gets underway tomorrow. 

The request will be heard by Judge Zainabu Mluke of the High Court.

Rweyongeza filed the request seeking bail to his client from the case at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam. 

Rweyongeza reached that decision as the Kisutu Court does not have the capacity to grant bail in cases of this nature until the Director of Public Prosecutors (DPP) issues the certificate to the court to facilitate bail processing. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (13/12/2012): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=48995