DAR ES SALAAM: THREE businessmen were on Friday brought before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam charged with 31 counts of manslaughter.
The accused are alleged to be the owners of the building that collapsed recently on Mchikichi and Congo streets in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, causing the deaths of 31 people.
The accused are Leondela Mdete (49) a resident of Mbezi Beach, Mwarabu Zenabu Islam (61) who resides at Kariakoo and Ashour Awadh Ashour (38) a resident of Ilala in Dar es Salaam.
Senior State Attorney Adolf Lema, assisted by Senior State Attorney Grace Mwanga and State Attorney Erick Kamala, presented the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Godfrey Mhini.
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State Attorney Kamala informed the court that the accused are jointly facing manslaughter charges. He alleged that on November 16 this year along Mchikichi and Kongo area at Kariakoo, Ilala District in Dar es Salaam Region, the accused unlawfully failed to fulfil their duties, resulting in the deaths of 31 people.
After reading the charges Kamala informed the court that investigation of the case is still ongoing. Magistrate Mhini said that the accused were not allowed to answer any charge because the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.
The accused were informed of the bail conditions, which include each accused to have two sureties who reside in Dar es Salaam and should have NIDA identification card and a letter of identification from local government authorities. The sureties were required to sign a bail bond worth 5m/- each.
Two of the accused were unable to meet the conditions, prompting them to be remanded in custody. The case is scheduled for mention again on December 12, this year.
