THE prosecution yesterday asked the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam to grant them more time to complete investigation into a bribery trial involving Members of Parliament (MPs), Ahmed Saddiq (53), Kangi Lugola (54) and Victor Mwambalasa (63).
A prosecutor from the Prevention and
Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Emanuel Jacob, told Principal
Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba that investigation into the matter had
not been completed.
The magistrate granted the prosecution’s
request, but with a call that they should speed up the process to
enable the accused persons know their fate.
“This case involves Members of
Parliament. They are presumed innocent until proved guilty. Make sure
the investigation is completed,” he said.
He adjourned the trial to May 11 for
another mention date and extended bail to the accused persons. The MPs
were arraigned for the first time on March 31, this year, facing corrupt
transactions.
They denied the charge and were released
on bail. Saddiq, the MP for Mvomero in Morogoro Region, Lugola, the
legislator for Mwibara in Mara Region and Mwambalasa, a lawmaker for
Lupa Constituency in Mbeya Region, are alleged to have solicited 30m/-
from a District Executive Director (DED) in order to provide clear
recommendations on accounts.
The prosecution told the court that the
three legislators committed the offence on March 15, this year, at
Golden Tulip Hotel at Masaki area in Kinondoni District, in the City of
Dar es Salaam.
Being MPs and members of the Standing
Parliamentary Local Authority Accounting Committee (LAAC), the trio
allegedly solicited a sum of 30m/- from Mr Mbwana Soud Magotta, the DED
of Gairo District Council.
Such amount, according to the
prosecution, was an inducement so as they could give clear
recommendations on the account of the district council for 2015/2016
financial year, the matter was in relation to the affairs of their
principal
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