MKURANGA, COAST REGION: Four individuals have been charged at the Mkuranga District Court in the Coast Region with economic sabotage following the vandalism of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) infrastructure.
The suspects are accused of stealing copper wires valued at 300 million Tanzanian shillings.
The accused are identified as Abdul Huot (56), a Pakistani national and manager of GBL Group; Kudadad Jalal Bizanjo (63), a businessman; Athanas Michael Shija (64); and Dickson Siza (38), also a businessman.
These suspects join 16 others facing similar charges, who were presented in various courts across the region, including the Kibaha Resident Magistrate Court, Kinondoni Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam, and the Dodoma District Court.
The suspects were formally charged before Senior Resident Magistrate Herieth Mwailolo, with State Attorney Recho Mwaipyana representing the prosecution.
According to the prosecution, Huot, Bizanjo, and Shija face two charges: sabotage and destruction of SGR infrastructure.
The prosecution alleges that the crimes were committed in December 2024 when the accused sabotaged the SGR system in the Coast Region.
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In a separate charge, the prosecution states that on December 13, 2024, the accused were found in possession of 5,000 kilograms of stolen copper valued at 280 million Tanzanian shillings in the Kisemvule area of Mkuranga District.
Defense Attorney Yohana Fungo requested bail for the suspects. The court granted bail under the following conditions: each suspect must post a bond of 100 million Tanzanian shillings, provide a deed of immovable property within the Coast Region, surrender their passports, and provide two sureties who will each sign a bond of 50 million Tanzanian shillings.
The suspects are also prohibited from leaving the region.
The case was adjourned to January 3, 2024, for further mention, with the suspects remanded in custody for failing to meet the bail conditions.
In the same case, Dickson Siza (38) faced separate charges of property destruction and possession of stolen goods.
It is alleged that he intentionally damaged infrastructure within the SGR electric railway system in Mkuranga District in December 2024. Additionally, on December 16, 2024, he was found in possession of 200 kilograms of stolen copper valued at 100 million Tanzanian shillings.
Siza was granted bail under similar conditions: a bond of 50 million Tanzanian shillings or proof of immovable property, surrender of his passport, and two sureties from Mkuranga, who will each sign a bond of 20 million Tanzanian shillings.
Attorney Mwaipyana informed the Magistrate that the investigation is still ongoing.
