Two businessmen appear in court over conspiracy, illegal minerals

By FAUSTINE KAPAMA 

TWO businessmen, Hafidhi Gradgorn and Michael Ngudungu, appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on Friday charged with conspiracy, leading organised crime and unauthorised possession and exportation of minerals, all valued at over 200m/-.

The two were not allowed to enter plea to the charges when they were arraigned before Principal Resident Magistrate Wilbard Mashauri and Senior Resident Magistrate Kasonde Maira in two

different court chambers because they are charged under the Economic and Organised Crimes Control Act.

Both accused persons were ordered to go to remand pending further investigations into the matter.

On the next date, the cases will be mentioned as the investigations, according to the prosecution led by Senior State Attorneys Mutalemwa Kishenyi and Jacqueline Nyantori, have not been completed.

Gradgorn’s case will be mentioned on July 12, while that of Ngudungu comes on July 3, as his advocate Ruben Simwenza had sought for a shorter adjournment, as his client was considering to plead guilty to the charge he is facing.

The defence counsel was, therefore, seeking audience with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have him issue a consent certificate to confer jurisdiction of the lower court to hear the matter.

He told the court that upon insurance of consent, his client would be in a position to enter plea to the charge.

It is alleged that between January 1, 2017 and June 3, 2018 at various places in Dar es Salaam within the United Republic of Tanzania, the United Arabs Emirates and Republic of India, Gradgorn conspired with other persons not in court to commit an offence of leading organised crime.

The court heard that within the same period and places, being not a public officer, but in collusion with pubic officials, intentionally and knowingly, Gradgorn allegedly managed and financed the business and affairs of a criminal racket with intent to reap profit or other benefits.

According to the prosecution, on June 3, 2018 at Mikocheni A, Chwaku Street in Kinondoni District in Dar es Salaam, Gradgorn was found in possession of precious minerals, which are coloured gemstones weighing 62.76 kilogrammes valued at 105,757.38 US dollars (about 211m/-).

It was alleged by the prosecution also that on June 7, 2018 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Ilala District in the city, Ngudungu exported different types of minerals containing different weights, all valued at 24,080.88 US dollars, equivalent to 54,814,343/91.

Such minerals, according to the prosecution, include 95.88 gold carats, 1.12 silver carats, 2.22 copper carats, 0.33 iron carats and 0.43 niobium carats, all weighing 601 grammes