Actress Nicole, co-accused in court for economic sabotage case

Dar es Salaam. Actress Joyce Mbaga, 32, also known as Nicole Berry, and her accomplice Rehema Mahanyu, 31, were arraigned before the Kivukoni Resident Magistrate's Court in Kinondoni, facing charges of economic sabotage.

The accused appeared in court on Monday, March 10, 2025, where three charges were read to them by the prosecutor, Government Lawyer Rhoda Maingu.

While presenting the charges before Chief Magistrate Ramadhani Rugemalira, Lawyer Rhoda stated that the accused committed these crimes between July 2024 and March 2025 within the Dar es Salaam Region.

In the first charge, the accused face allegations of leading a criminal gang with the intent of making money.

Lawyer Rhoda claimed that the accused committed this offense in order to gain profits by accepting deposits or transactions from the public without obtaining a license from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).

In the second charge, both accused are alleged to have received a total of Sh185,515,000 (185.51 million Tanzanian shillings) from the public between July 2024 and March 2025 without a license.

In the third charge, the accused are accused of operating a payment system without a payment license issued by BoT.

However, after the charges were read to them, Magistrate Rugemalira informed the accused that they were not required to respond to the charges until the investigation is completed and the court receives permission to proceed with the trial.

Lawyer Rhoda informed the court that the investigation is still ongoing and that there is no objection to granting bail to the accused.

Lawyers Jeremiah Mtobesya, who is defending Nicole, and Avelina Nelson, who is defending Rehema, requested the court to grant bail to their clients because the charges against them are bailable.

Magistrate Rugemalira agreed with the request and instructed the defense to present either cash or immovable property worth half the amount allegedly collected from the public as part of the bail conditions.

"Your case is bailable, but in the second charge of receiving transactions from the public, you received Sh185,515,000, and the law allows the accused to share half of this money for bail purposes," said Magistrate Rugemalira, adding:

"Half of this amount is Sh92,757,500. Therefore, each of you will be required to submit either cash or immovable property worth Sh46,378,750."

Magistrate Rugemalira also instructed the accused to provide two sureties each, with letters of identification from local government authorities, and if employed, to submit a letter from their employer.

The case has been postponed to March 24, 2025. The accused have been remanded in custody for failing to meet the bail requirements.

Nicole has been detained at Oysterbay Police Station in Kinondoni since March 3, 2025.