Dar es Salaam: Ntagazwa hides in bathroom to escape police arrest

Written by DAILY NEWS Reporter.

FORMER Cabinet Minister Arcado Ntagazwa went to hide into a bathroom when the police went to arrest him, at his house at Mbezi in Dar es Salaam after being allegedly linked with charges of obtaining goods by false pretences.

This was said by Detective Sergeant Arobogast  Kashaija at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam, when he was giving evidence in the trial against Ntagazwa and two other accused persons.

Led by State Attorney Charles Anindo, the police officer, who is the third prosecution witness, detailed that on February 8, last year, a team of detectives went to the house of the accused early in the morning to arrest him after escaping from the lawful police custody.

“On reaching the place we knocked the doors, but the accused refused to open. We called some leaders, including the local chairman who phoned and requested him to open the door, but he responded that he was reading some newspapers,” the witness told Resident Magistrate Geni Dudu.

According to the witness, they remained outside for about four hours without any success before forcing inside. He testified that the accused person escaped to the bathroom to avoid his arrest. “He was wearing pence, but we just arrested him,” the police officer narrated.

Cross-examined by Advocate Alex Mushumbusi why they went to arrest his client while naked, the witness maintained that the law allowed them to take such steps, considering circumstances surrounding the matter.

Other accused persons in the case are Senator Julius Miselya and Webhale Ntagazwa. All the three accused were arraigned in connection with the charges of obtaining items worth 74.95m/- by false pretences on April 23, last year.

The prosecution had alleged that on October 22, 2009 at Msasani Mikoroshini area in Dar es Salaam, with intent to defraud, Senator Miselya, Ntagazwa and Ntagazwa Junior obtained 5,000 caps and 5,000 T-shirts worth 74.95m/- belonging to Mr Noel Severe.

It is alleged that the accused had promised to pay the owner of the said goods within one month while it was false. The accused persons pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.

Source: http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/17412-ntagazwa-hides-in-bathroom-to-escape-police-arrest