Dar es Salaam: Fake permits: Suspects charged with 28 counts

BY KARAMA KENYUNKO.

Three Dar es Salaam residents held by the Immigration Department on suspicion of belonging to a syndicate dealing in forged documents yesterday appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court charged with several counts.

The prosecution led by State Attorney Genis Tesha, assisted by Patrick Ngayomela named the accused as Bennety Matatiro Tangire, Benedicto Rweikiza Ijumba and January Rweyendera Mutembei. They appeared before Resident Magistrate Aloyce Katemana. 

The arraignment of the accused is after the Immigration Department on Wednesday announced that it was holding the three for the fabrication of various governments and private firm documents including stamps and residence permits worth millions.

According to the charges, the accused are facing 28 counts of conspiracy, forgery, issuing of forged documents and obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to Section 384, 333, 335, 337, 302 and 342 of the Penal Code.

On the first count, it was alleged that on an unknown date but in the city, the three conspired to commit the offence.

It was further alleged that, on different dates between January 28 and February 18 this year, the accused forged several resident permits Class B which have been identified to have the following serial numbers: 100398, 100396, 100397, 1114237, 1008123, 1008125, 1008124, 115345 and 100399.

All were forged to pass as genuine issues by the principal commissioner of immigration services, a fact the suspects knew not to be true.

The forged resident permits were issued to several persons listed as Cang La, Cheng Yu, Yangu Chicheng, Meng Xian Ying, Dnan Hong Qui, Gao Da Qiang, Ding Zheng Sheng, Zhao Ben Fu and Zhang Hao for a sum total of US$18,450 (equivalent to 29.5m/-). 

Magistrate Katemana set the case to come for mention on April 18, later this month.

Last year the Immigration Department modified the residence permits by adding security features that have now bore fruits.

Following the crackdown, the department has ordered all foreign nationals holding Class A, B and C residence permits to submit them to regional or district immigration offices for review and mandatory replacement. 

It did not specify the reasons for the mandatory replacement, although it is safe to assume that it is to reissue them with the new documents that bear modern safety features.

The suspects were also found with birth and death certificates, plain and unnumbered ERVs, national insurance stickers and Comesa yellow cards.

Others documents they were found in possession of include church, mosque and hospital stamps all costing the government sums in excess of millions. 

The court ordered the accused to secure two reliable sureties from the government or any recognized institute to sign a bond of 30m/- each.

The accused pled not guilty to the charges and were remanded in custody for failing to meet the bail conditions.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (05/04/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=53159