Court to hear 40 witnesses in economic sabotage case

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Kinondoni Resident Magistrate’s Court is expected to hear 40 witnesses and receive 480 exhibits in the economic sabotage case facing Frank Kalage and three others.

Electronic machine technician, Mr Awadhi Mhavile (39), Ally Msesya alias Ally Yanga (37), a resident of Pugu and garage manager, Salma Ndauka (38), a resident of Sinza, are facing 574 charges, including occasioning loss of 917.9m/- to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).

Before Magistrate Incharge, Is-haq Kuppa, the prosecution said that the case came for preliminary hearing on Thursday and after proceedings, accused persons denied all charges.

The State Attorney, Tumpale Lawrence, assisted by Senior State Attorney, Emmanuel Medalakini and State Attorney, Auni Chilamula, claimed that in July, 2023 Meshack Athanas, a motorcyclist, was found in possession of seven electronic fiscal receipts worth 128,500,000/-.

Tumpale alleged that four fiscal receipts were issued from Electronic Fiscal Device (EFD) belonging to Africa Harmony Industry and Trade Limited with serial number 03TZ843040152 a registered taxpayer with TIN 159265420; two electronic fiscal receipts were issued from Tabisco Enterprises Limited Registered Taxpayer with TIN 100219557 and one electronic fiscal receipt which was issued from electronic fiscal device owned by Eco Consumer Products Ltd.

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Athanas said that the receipts were given to him by Ally Msesya who is a third accused person.

It was alleged that Athanas led the Investigators in arresting Msesya and on the following day of July 8, 2023 Athanas led the investigators in arresting second accused Mhavile.

He claimed that upon the arrest of second accused he was found in possession of 11 false fiscal receipts dated June 30, 2023 and the total value of 133m/- issued from electronic fiscal device with serial number 03TZ843040152 the property of Africa Harmony Industry and Trade Limited and 13 electronic fiscal devices with made INCOTEX suspected of being stolen or unlawful acquired, the same were duly seized.

However, upon interrogation of the second accused, Mhavile, mentioned the first accused person Kagale as the possessor of the electronic fiscal device used to issue false fiscal receipts that were found in the possession of second accused.

Also, he claimed that, based on the said information, endeavours to trace first accused commenced immediately.