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JF Admin
- Feb 26, 2006
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By Rosina John
An Arusha-based businessman yesterday admitted before Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court that he is the owner of a company which was used as conduit for stealing Sh2.2 billion from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT)'s External Payment Arrears (EPA) account.
Mr Japhet Lema, who is jointly tried with another businessman, Mr Jonathan Munisi, for stealing the money, reveled that Njake Hotel &Tours Company was his.
They face charges of theft and uttering forged documents to mislead BOT that their company had been assigned to collect the debt on behalf of C.I Company of Japan.
Before a panel on three magistrates led by resident magistrate Amir Msumi, Mr Lema admitted that he was the executive director of the said company that was registered on April 10, 2003.
Mr Lema also admitted to have opened two different accounts at Exim Bank in Arusha Branch, which he used to channel the money obtained from BoT.
Principle State Attorney Fredrick Manyanda had told the court that Mr Lema and his co accused, who is a the owner of Madon Agri Business Company Limited, forged documents to achieve the criminal mission.
Mr Manyanda alleged before the court that on August 3, 2005 the accused forged deed of assignments showing that Mr Lema had been assigned a debt of Sh2,225,035,393.39 by the Japanese company while knowing the same to be false.
He further alleged that on September 1, 2005 the accused presented the forged documents to the BOT, which subsequently deposited the money into his company's account the following day.
He alleged that after the money was deposited, the accused withdrew it using cheques.
Mr Manyanda told the court that the prosecution intended to call 13 witnesses from BoT, National Bank of Commerce (NBC) and the police to prove the case. The case was adjourned up to October 1 this year.
Source:
An Arusha-based businessman yesterday admitted before Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court that he is the owner of a company which was used as conduit for stealing Sh2.2 billion from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT)'s External Payment Arrears (EPA) account.
Mr Japhet Lema, who is jointly tried with another businessman, Mr Jonathan Munisi, for stealing the money, reveled that Njake Hotel &Tours Company was his.
They face charges of theft and uttering forged documents to mislead BOT that their company had been assigned to collect the debt on behalf of C.I Company of Japan.
Before a panel on three magistrates led by resident magistrate Amir Msumi, Mr Lema admitted that he was the executive director of the said company that was registered on April 10, 2003.
Mr Lema also admitted to have opened two different accounts at Exim Bank in Arusha Branch, which he used to channel the money obtained from BoT.
Principle State Attorney Fredrick Manyanda had told the court that Mr Lema and his co accused, who is a the owner of Madon Agri Business Company Limited, forged documents to achieve the criminal mission.
Mr Manyanda alleged before the court that on August 3, 2005 the accused forged deed of assignments showing that Mr Lema had been assigned a debt of Sh2,225,035,393.39 by the Japanese company while knowing the same to be false.
He further alleged that on September 1, 2005 the accused presented the forged documents to the BOT, which subsequently deposited the money into his company's account the following day.
He alleged that after the money was deposited, the accused withdrew it using cheques.
Mr Manyanda told the court that the prosecution intended to call 13 witnesses from BoT, National Bank of Commerce (NBC) and the police to prove the case. The case was adjourned up to October 1 this year.
Source:
