Police nab 11 cybercrime suspects
POLICE Force in collaboration with a special team for preventing and combating cybercrime has arrested 11 suspects of cybercrime, following continuous surveillance conducted in recent months.
Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Muliro Jumanne Muliro said yesterday that the suspects were caught with various equipment used to perpetrate crimes.
The devices are 23 mobile phones, 437 SIM cards of various mobile networks with different names registered, six laptops, five mobile phone boxes, three routers and one power bank.
He said the suspects include Li Naiyong (48), a Chinese national, Alex Magoti (26), a Tabora region resident and Joseph Mzava (19), a Kinondoni resident and student at the College of Business Education (CBE).
“Magoti and eight of his associates were arrested on suspicion of owning online television and social media accounts that were used to disseminate fraudulent or fabricated material regarding President Samia Suluhu Hassan and other top government officials,” ACP Muliro stated.
The suspects, he says, have been uploading fraudulent, inaccurate and misleading information on online television platforms such as Bsun Online TV, Gattu Online TV, Tamutamu Online TV, Kilimanjaro Online TV and others.
He further said that Mzava was arrested on suspicion of impersonating retired president Jakaya Kikwete and using an anonymous SIM card to commit fraud online through a fraud scheme.
According to ACP Muliro, Li, a Chinese national, is suspected of interfering with the communication system in violation of country procedures, causing the government a loss of 221mil/-.
“The suspect has been utilising unapproved gadgets to connect people via phone in order to converse abroad in violation of Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) legislation,” he said.
ACP Muliro advised Tanzanians to be careful about the use of social networks. He also recommended that citizens observe the ethics of the media profession and the relevant laws to avoid publishing false information. This will cause panic among the populace.
According to ACP Muliro, police will not hesitate to take drastic measures against anyone who breaks the rules, regulations and guidelines that govern social network usage.
