Engineers, tour guide to face economic sabotage charges

DAR ES SALAAM: THREE engineers and a tour guide accused of fraudulently obtaining more than 300m/- from government institutions and private firms are scheduled to be served with a new charge sheet on economic sabotage on Tuesdaynext week.

The accused are Faustine Malya (44), of Salasala, Emiliani Kimaro (35), of Kibaha, Nelson Jacob (32), of Kimara Mwisho and tour guide Tumaini Mollel (30), of Kiseke in Mwanza.

Prosecutor Burton Mayage told Resident Magistrate Amos Rweikiza at the Kinondoni Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday that the amended charge sheet was ready but could not be filed because it included an additional offence that required official authorisation.

“The amended charge sheet is already prepared, but it contained an offence that needed special consent before this Court could hear it,” Mr Mayage explained.

He said the Regional Prosecution Officer (RPO), responsible for signing the consent, was away on official duties and could not endorse the document in time.

He asked the court to adjourn the matter to allow the new charges to be read.

Defence counsels Peter Shapa and Pharis Mshana had no objection, though the first accused, Mr Malya, who lacks legal representation, requested more time, citing family responsibilities.

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Magistrate Rweikiza ruled that since the session concerned only the reading of new charges, the case would proceed on September 30.

According to the prosecution, the suspects allegedly diverted funds from projects handled by Sec East African Ltd, a company contracted to install lifts in various buildings.

It is claimed they altered the firm’s bank details and replaced them with their own.

The accused are further alleged to have forged the signatures of the company’s Managing Director, Tian Chun, Marketing Director, Ntuli Mwankusye, and Accountant, Gabriel Makundi.

The offences were allegedly committed between November 2021 and April 2023 in Dar es Salaam.