Arusha reporter ‘attackers’ to be arraigned: police

Arusha. Four people suspected of taking part in the mysterious abduction and assault of an Arusha based journalist on Sunday will be arraigned.

The four, who included a protocol officer with the Arusha regional secretariat, were arrested, late on Monday in various parts of the city.

“They were released on police bail at 9pm on Monday after recording a statement at the Central Police Station but will be arraigned when investigations are over,” said regional Police commander Charles Mkumbo yesterday.

However, he did not reveal the names of the people accused of assaulting Lucas Myovela, a freelance reporter stringing for FM radio stations.

The RPC said the four would be taken to court anytime from today to answer the charges of alleged abduction and assault of the journalist.

Earlier, Mr Myovela told The Citizen that he was forced into a vehicle at Kwa Ngulelo on the Moshi highway on Sunday night naming the protocal officer as one of those who were there.

He added that the four vowed to ‘teach him a lesson’ and later dumped him in a river at Sakina along the Namanga Road before raining blows on him.

During the scuffle, he claimed to have lost an unspecified amount of money and mobile phone handsets before the assaulters took him to a police station.

The police are also holding the mobile phones of one of the four suspects, believing it could give a clue to the kidnapping claims as the journalist was prior to that communicating with unknown people over the phone.

There are unconfirmed reports linking the incident to the love triangle between the young journalist and a fiancee of one of the four suspects.

The Arusha Press Club (APC) has condemned the alleged assault “in no uncertain terms” and called on the law enforcement agencies to ensure the suspects were taken to court for justice to be done.