MOSHI: Former TCB official set to challenge court sentence

By Daniel Mjema, The Citizen Correspondent.

Former Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) director general Leslie Omary has filed a notice of appeal to challenge a seven-year sentence for abuse of office.

Mr Omary was found by Principal Resident Magistrate Simon Kobelo guilty of misuse of public office and using his position for personal gain. Through his lawyer Elikunda Kipoko the ex-coffee board boss is categorically contesting the ruling and both offences that he was convicted with.

Mr Kobelo confirmed to The Citizen to have received the notice and said the court would accord him all necessary documents for further legal procedures. The documents will help him to prepare substantial grounds for the appeal that he will submit to the High Court.

In its ruling, the court concurred with the prosecution that Omari used the TCB headquarters in Moshi as collateral for a loan issued to African Consulting Group Limited (ACGL) in which he was a shareholder.

Omary was also ordered to repay a total of Sh330 million that ACGL borrowed from Exim Bank in 2003 using the five-storey building as security.

Source: The Citizen (01/04/2013): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/30177-former-tcb-official-set-to-challenge-court-sentence