Dar es Salaam: Ponda case: Accused disowns Bakwata, Chief Sheikh

Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA

LEADERS of the Council of Islamic Organization, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda and Salehe Mukadam, opted to let their co-accused be the first to enter defence of which some of them went on to disown Bakwata and the Muslims' Chief Sheikh.

 "We just hear of Bakwata (Muslim Council of Tanzania) like any other association. I do not recognize it," Farida Lukoko, said while appearing before magistrate Victoria Nongwa at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

In her examination in chief led by Advocate Juma Nassoro, the accused added, "I just hear there is Chief Mufti. I have not even seen him; neither Bakwata nor Chief Sheikh who leads Muslims. Our leader is God and Quran."

It has been the practice in criminal cases that the first accused in such cases would be the first to enter defence; the accused are charged with conspiracy, trespass and criminal possession of property owned by Agritanza Limited on a plot situated at Markaz, Chang'ombe, in Temeke District, in the City.

Other charges, according to the prosecution, include stealing building materials from Agritanza Limited including 1,500 bricks and 36 tonnes of aggregate and iron bars, all worth 59.6m/-. The offences are alleged to have been committed on October 12, last year.

Other accused who gave their defence yesterday are Kurthum Mfaume, Zainab Mohamed, Zaidan Yusuf, Juma Mtandi, Adamu Ramadhani and Athumani Salum. They almost gave similar account to counter the charges, but admitted having being arrested at the plot, but on a different date.

According to their evidence, the accused were found at Markaz area inside a mosque conducting prayers on the night of October 16, last year. The accused alleged that they were intimidated by the police during their arrests.

One of the accused, a woman, lamented that she was arrested and searched by policemen, which was against the procedure, while the police forced themselves into the mosque with dogs while wearing shoes.

"This is totally against the Muslim's faith. We were very much abused," she said. Another accused, Zaidan Yusuf, born in 1947, claimed that despite being so aged, the police used excessive force during the arrest, with one of them kicking her during the process. Hearing of the case continues today.

Source: Daily News (07/03/2013): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/15259-ponda-case-accused-disowns-bakwata-chief-sheikh