Suspended DART chief, three others in court over 83.5m/- loss

MAUREEN ODUNGA

THREE senior officials from the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit Project (DART), including the suspended Chief Executive Officer Asteria Mlambo, appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrates’ Court in the city charged with occasioning loss of 83.5m/- to the government.

With her were two DART officials -- Director of Finance and Administration Evodius Katale and Principal Legal Officer Francis Kugesha -- who were joined by the Director of Yukan Company, Yuda Mwakatobe.

They all pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges. An official from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Ms Jackline Nyantori, who was assisted by Estazia Wilson and Stellah Mafuru, for the prosecution, alleged that the four persons have been charged under the money laundering criminal code.

It was alleged that on September 1 and October 1, 2013 at Kinondoni District in the city, Mlambo, Katale and Kugesha, being employees in the DART project, failed to perform their duties properly, causing the government a loss of 83.5m/-.

On the part of Mwakatobe, it was alleged that on June 29, 2005 at Ilala Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) offices, in the city, the accused gave false information to TRA officials while presenting a financial statement for the years 2004 and 2005. According to the prosecution, the act led the accused to pay a small amount of tax for his company, Yukan.

Earlier, Ms Nyantori had informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has presented a certificate giving the court jurisdiction to hear the case.

The accused persons are hence allowed to enter a plea to their charges. The prosecution informed the court that investigations into the matter have not been completed while it had no objection to bail.

Resident Magistrate Respicius Mwijage granted Asteria, Katale and Kugesha bail on condition of availing one surety from a recognised organisation who will have to sign a bond of 15m/- while each accused will be required to present cash or a title deed of an immovable property worth 15m/-.

The officials from DART managed to clear their bail conditions and were released while the magistrate ordered Asteria and Katale to present their deeds on March 3.

Mwakatobe was committed to remand custody, with the magistrate ruling that his bail was open if he would secure one surety from a recognised institution who will sign a bond of 5m/-. The case has been adjourned to March 9.