Those convicted are Faraji Liyugana, Said Ponera, and Rashid Fussi, charged with the murder of the deceased, contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code
Arusha. The Tanzania High Court at the Songea Registry has sentenced three people to death by hanging after finding them guilty of murdering a bodaboda rider, Mr Fanyeni Adam.
Those convicted are Faraji Liyugana, Said Ponera, and Rashid Fussi, charged with the murder of the deceased, contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal Code.
Judge James Karayemaha delivered the verdict on September 29, 2025, a copy of which was later uploaded to the court’s website.
According to the judgment, the killing occurred on January 12, 2023, with the body abandoned in bushland near the Tanesco area in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region.
After examining evidence from both prosecution and defence, Judge Karayemaha ruled all three were guilty of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging.
Evidence presented
Key evidence included confessions by the second and third accused persons, who admitted involvement in the killing in collusion with the first accused.
Court testimony revealed the deceased had been riding a motorcycle with registration MC 162 DPT, owned by Abbasy Gangisa, who entrusted it to witness number 12, Faraji Ngonyani, to operate for business and share profits.
Witness number 12 testified that he had given the motorcycle to Mr Fanyeni Adam (the deceased) for business in exchange for Sh10,000 daily payments.
Witness number six said on January 12, 2023, the deceased visited his home with a friend, Mr Yasin Lika, saying they were going to a farm in the Tanesco area to collect a hoe, but did not return that night.
Searches began the next day. Efforts to locate him through witness number 12 proved fruitless until January 14, when witness number nine, Mr Mariju Mwenyeheri, found his body in bushland near his farm.
Police recovered the body with injuries. The motorcycle was missing, except for a mobile phone found at the scene.
Witness number two, SP Cathbet Mnogi, said police were informed of the accused’s identities, friends of Yasin, and the deceased.
They later recovered the motorcycle at the home of the first accused, who lived with his fiancée, Ms Ziaba Saidi (witness number three).
Witness number three testified that the first accused told her the motorcycle belonged to a friend who owed him Sh300,000. The friend failed to repay, and the motorcycle was taken to recover the debt.
Witness number two said the first accused admitted involvement and named the second and third accused as accomplices, adding they gave him the motorcycle after the killing to sell and share proceeds.
Defence
The first accused said his friend, Mr Yasin, asked him to keep the motorcycle on January 24, 2023, but he failed to return it before the police confiscated. He denied naming his co‑accused and denied knowing them.
The second accused said he was arrested on January 15, informed of the murder charge, denied writing a confession, and denied knowing the others.
The third accused said he was arrested on January 15 at home, informed of the charge, and denied knowing the other accused or writing a confession.
Judge’s ruling
Judge Karayemaha said two issues remained: whether the death was unnatural and whether the accused committed it with malice.
Evidence, including a medical examination showing a severe head injury, confirmed the death was unnatural.
Although no witness directly saw the accused kill the deceased, possession of the motorcycle after his death linked them to the crime.
The judge noted confessions by the second accused, who said they planned to seize the motorcycle with Mr Yasin, Mr Rashid, and Mr Faraji, promising Sh1 million afterward.
They lured the rider to Tanesco, attacked him with a machete and sticks until he died, while Mr Yasin was watching.
The third accused admitted waiting along the road to ambush the rider and later attacking him with a stick.
The judge said the confessions by the second and third accused, given voluntarily, were crucial.
Weighing all the evidence, the court found all three guilty of murder and sentenced them to death by hanging.
