All of them pleaded not guilty to the
offences in Wete Regional Court. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)
Mr Hassan Nassir, who is in charge of the area, confirmed that the
suspects were taken to court and each was required to enter a plea.
They all denied the counts of arson which were levelled against them.
Mr Nassir did not give further details through the phone.
Meanwhile, the Regional Police
Commissioner (RPC) for Urban-West on Unguja Island, Mr Mkadam Khamis
Mkadam, said 38 people are still being held for questioning in
connection with criminal acts in his region including attempts to
blow-up the home of Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Hamdan Omar last
Monday.
“We are holding 38 people including 36
suspects found making ‘intensive physical body exercises’ at Mpendae
Street. The group was also found with traditional arms and army
uniforms,” Mr Mkadam said.
He added that investigation in
connection with the matter continues. He said that police were informed
earlier on about their plans and managed to foil their intentions by
ambushing the ‘secret training house’ at Mpendae.
However, CUF Deputy Secretary General Nassor Ahmed Mazrui dismissed the claims as false.
He said the arrested people are
followers of his party. “We (CUF) are being targeted for no reason. The
arrested people are members of the party.
They were doing harmless physical
exercises. They were not planning to cause any havoc in the town,” said
Mr Mazrui. Mr Mazrui blamed the police for beating and harassing the
arrested persons, and damaging or destroying their equipment. He pegged
the value of the equipment at more than 130m/-.
“I ask the police to be fair in dealing with suspects,” he said.
He said that although the Minister of
Internal Affairs, Mr Charles Kitwanga, and police officers say Zanzibar
is peaceful, “some people have been leaving Zanzibar for the Mainland
and beyond fearing the harm caused by security forces.”
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