AS several high-ranking Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officials are already under serious investigation over missing containers at the Dar es Salaam Port, police have declared that all people behind the racket will be brought to book.
The police have already listed for
arrest a number of culprits behind the so-described ‘sickening thievery’
that has denied the government of billions of shillings – in
implementation of the government directive to that effect issued last
week.
In an exclusive interview with the
‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam, the Director of Criminal Investigations
(DCI), Mr Diwani Athumani, said that all people who took part in the
scandal, either directly or indirectly, will be arrested, questioned and
consequently arraigned.
He affirmed that they were all out to
implement the government’s order of handling the case, pledging to leave
no stone unturned.
“We are tracing those who are implicated
in the container syndicate at the country’s major sea gateway; no one
will be left untouched and we are prepared and ready to act on this,” he
told the 'Daily News'.
As for the names of those who are held,
Mr Athumani said disclosing the names of the suspects would tip those
who are still at large, pointing out only that investigations were in
good progress.
Earlier yesterday, the Police Force
Spokesperson, Ms Advera Bulimba, told the ‘Daily News’ that her force
had started investigations into the syndicate, saying the police were
still grilling all those who were implicated in the matter.
She, however, declined disclosure of
more details, saying it would interfere with the ongoing probe. Last
week, the government suspended TRA Commissioner General, Mr Rished Bade,
and five other senior officials in the wake of the missing 349
containers valued at 80bn/-.
Talking to the leadership of the
Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and that of the TRA after a surprise
visit last week, the Prime Minister, Mr Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa,
directed that Bade and Acting TPA Director General, Lusekelo Mwaseba,
should cooperate with the police to make sure that the misappropriated
funds are returned to the government.
Other suspended officials include the
Commissioner of Customs, Tiagi Masamaki and the TRA Assistant Manager at
Customs Service, Habibu Mponezya. “I have also suspended these two.
I have directed the Inspector-General of
Police (IGP) to apprehend them so that they can help with the
investigations. Their passports should be confiscated and their wealth
audited,” the prime minister said.
Other officers suspended include the
Head of ICT Department, Haruni Mpande, Hamisi Ali Omari (position not
stated) and the Inland Container Depot (ICD) In-Charge, Eliachi Mrema.
“They have been suspended until
investigations are completed. But they shall be in the hands of the
police,” the PM had directed. Mr Majaliwa had also directed the transfer
of three employees from Dar es Salaam to an upcountry destination.
They are Anangisye Mtafya, Nsajigwa
Mwandengele and Robert Nyoni. Earlier before the suspension, the TRA CG
had admitted that containers got lost between the port and ICDs,
particularly the Ubungo ICD.
Bade had said that in an investigation
that he carried out in one ICD, he found 54 containers had been lost
under mysterious circumstances. “In spite of that, we are continuing
with the investigations.
The number has now reached 327. We are
still following up on the matter and working with PCCB. The owner of the
ICD has been fined 12.6bn/- and has already paid 2.4bn/-,” he had
explained.
When asked by the Premier if he has the
names of the employees involved in the theft, Bade admitted that he had a
list but he could not produce it immediately. Mr Majaliwa then showed
him a list showing there were 349 stolen containers with all the
details, including license plate numbers that carried the containers,
which Bade agreed that it was correct.
It was at that juncture that the PM said
that such a trend could not continue and that there was need to remove
the ‘rotten apples’. He did exactly that.
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