Bukoba: Primary court magistrate charged with receiving bribe

Bukoba. 

A primary court magistrate in Kagera Region, Mr Charles Rwezaura, was yesterday arraigned for allegedly requesting and receiving Sh50,000 bribe from a resident of Itahwa Village in Bukoba Rural District.

Mr Rwezaura was arraigned before the Kagera Regional Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Kagera regional commander of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Mr Joseph Mwaiswelo, told reporters here yesterday that the accused, who served at Katoma Primary Court, which is located in Bukoba Rural District, was arrested in his office on January 6.

He said that the accused received the bribe from a resident of Itahwa Village.

The villager had been charged in the primary court before magistrate Rwezaura with threatening to kill.

“The villager who was asked to bring Sh50,000 is facing charges of threatening to kill; the magistrate therefore asked him to bring the cash ahead of the judgement, which was set to take place on the day the magistrate was arrested,” said Mr Mwaiswelo.

According to the regional PCCB boss, the money was brought to the magistrate’s office on the judgment day.

“It is obvious the magistrate requested for the money so that he could favour the accused in the case, the money was brought to his office on the judgment date,” he said.

He said, the magistrate therefore had committed an offence contrary to PCCB Act number 139 sections 15 (a) and (b) of 2007.

He said his office was continuing with investigations on the matter.

“We are continuing with investigation and we are looking forward to collecting more evidence against the accused,” he said.

The case has been postponed until February 2, when it will come for another mention.

Source: The Citizen (09/01/2015)