City businessman arraigned on 75 economic sabotage charges

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian businessman Akram Aziz has appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court charged with 75 economic sabotage counts including money laundering and being found in possession of government trophies, firearms and thousands of ammunitions.

Before Senior Resident Magistrate Augustine Rwizile, state attorneys Paul Kadushi and Faraja Nchimbi alleged that the accused committed the offences between October 30 and 31.

Reading the charge sheet, Mr Kadushi said on October 30 at Oysterbay, the accused was found in possession of six elephant tusks valued at $45,000 (Sh103 million) property of the United Republic of Tanzania without any permit from the director of wildlife.

Mr Kadushi alleged that in the second count, on the same day, the accused was found in possession of 65 kilos of buffalo meat worth $1,900 (Sh4.3 million).

In counts numbers 3 to 72, Mr Aziz is accused of being found with 70 assorted firearms, including shotguns, rifles and pistols without licences from the relevant authorities.

In the 73th and 74th counts, between October 30 and October 31, it was alleged that Mr Aziz was found with 6,496 ammunitions that he possessed unlawfully.

In the last count, Mr Aziz was accused of money laundering whereby he was found with $9,018 which he possessed illegally.

Before reading the charges, Mr Rwizile informed the accused that he would not be able enter any plea to any of the charges because the court had no powers to hear economic sabotage cases, and that the accused would do so when he would appear before the High Court.

Mr Kadushi told the court that investigations were yet to be completed.

The case was adjourned until November 12 when it will come up for mentioning, and the accused was remanded in custody.

The defence team comprises five lawyers, including Mr Alex Mgongolwa, Mr Semi Malimi and Mr Karage Rashidi.