Mkurugenzi wa Richmond apandishwa kizimbani!

[Ochu]

there are a lot of big shorts behind...huyu ni scape goat tu!!!! kama PCCB wamafanyia kazi hili itakuwa ni weakest case ever maana mapema waliwahi kusema kulikuwa hakuna tatizo lolote kwenye sakata la RICHMOND

 

[FairPlayer]

Wengi tunafanya speculations na hatuangalii upande wa pili wa shilingi.

Rev Kishoka. UMENENA.

Ndo maana mi nikakaa kimya na kuwasoma.

Swali la kwanini Tanesco bado linailipa Dowans hela ni la kwanza.
La pili ni kuwa Naeem Gire ni minority shareholder, haingii akilini mtu akafoji documents na kusema Rev Kishoka natumia jina la kampuni yako wewe chukua share 750,000 mie nitakuwa na 250,000 tu.

We need to think outside the box.

Siku njema

FP

 

[Ochu]

Kigogo wa Richmond aburuzwa kortini

SASA ni dhahiri kwamba, serikali ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete haina mzaha katika kushughulikia tuhuma za ufisadi baada ya kumfikisha mahakamani mfanyabiashara, Naeem Adam Gire kujibu shtaka la kughushi na kutoa taarifa za uongo kuhusu uwezo wa Kampuni ya Richmond.

Tayari serikali imeshawafikisha mahakamani watuhumiwa 21 kwenye sakata la wizi wa jumla ya Sh133 bilioni, mawaziri wawili wa zamani na katibu mkuu wa wizara kwa makosa ya kutumia vibaya ofisi; na jana ilikuwa zamu ya kashfa iliyoitikisa nchi mwaka jana kuhusu utoaji wa zabuni ya ufuaji umeme wa dharura kwa Richmond.

Kashfa hiyo, iliyoingia hadi ndani ya Bunge la Muungano, ilisababisha aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu, Edward Lowassa kujiuzulu baada ya kuhusishwa na sakata hilo. Baadaye mawaziri wawili wa serikali ya awamu ya nne, Nazir Karamagi na Ibrahim Msabaha, nao waliachia ngazi.

Jana, Gire alipandishwa kizimbani majira ya saa 9:00 alasiri kujibu tuhuma za kueleza uongo kuwa Richmond ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 100 za umeme nchini.

Mbele ya Hakimu Mkazi wa Kisutu, Wariyalwande Lema, Gire alisomewa mashtaka yake na wakili wa serikali, Boniface Stanslaus ambaye alidai kuwa Machi 13 mwaka 2006 jijini Dar es Salaam, mshtakiwa alighushi nyaraka akionyesha kwamba, Mohamed Gire, ambaye ni mwenyekiti wa Richmond Development Company LLC ya Texas nchini Marekani, alisaini kumruhusu Naeem Adam Gire kufanya shughuli za kampuni hiyo hapa nchini.

Katika shtaka la pili, wakili huyo alidai kuwa Machi 20 mwaka 2006 katika eneo la Ubungo Umeme, mshtakiwa alitoa hati za uongo zilizoonyesha kwamba, Mohamed Gire amezisaini kumuidhinisha kufanya shughuli za kampuni hiyo nchini.

Katika shtaka la tatu mshtakiwa huyo anadaiwa kutoa taarifa za uongo kwa wajumbe wa Bodi ya Zabuni ya Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco), kwamba Kampuni ya Richmond ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 100 za umeme nchini.

Inadaiwa kuwa, mshtakiwa huyo alitoa taarifa hizo ili wajumbe wa bodi hiyo waipendekeze Kampuni ya Richmond kufanya kazi hiyo.

Wakili huyo alidai kuwa, katika shtaka la nne mwezi Juni mwaka 2006, mshtakiwa alitoa taarifa za uongo kwa wajumbe wa Timu ya Majadiliano ya Serikali kwamba, Richmond ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 100 za umeme ili wajumbe hao waweze kuipendekeza.

Kwa mujibu wa wakili huyo, mshtakiwa huyo anadaiwa katika shtaka la tano kuwa mwezi Juni mwaka 2006, alitoa nyaraka za kughushi akionyesha kwamba Mohamed Gire amezisaini kumuidhinisha mshtakiwa kufanya shughuli za kampuni hiyo Tanzania.

Hata hivyo, upande wa mashtaka ulidai kuwa upelelezi wa kesi hiyo bado haujakamilika. Wakili anayemtetea mshtakiwa huyo, Kato Zake aliiomba mahakama kutoa masharti nafuu ya dhamana kwa kuwa makosa anayotuhumiwa yanaruhusu kupata dhamana.

"Tunaomba masharti nafuu ya dhamana kwa sababu mshtakiwa wakati wote amekuwa akitoa ushirikiano katika upelelezi na afya yake sio nzuri," alisema Zake. Wakili huyo pia alidai mshtakiwa huyo alikuwa anafuatilia hati yake ya kusafiria kwa ajili ya kwenda kwenye matibabu na kwamba ameshatoa baadhi ya hati zake za nyumba kwa Jeshi la Polisi.

Baada ya kusikiliza hoja zote, Hakimu Lema aliahirisha kesi hiyo hadi leo atakapotoa uamuzi wa dhamana. Akiongea na wahariri mwishoni mwa mwaka jana, Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda aliwatoa hofu wananchi akisema kuwa, tuhuma nyingi za ufisadi zinashughulikiwa na kwamba katika uchunguzi huo mambo mengi mapya yamebainika.

Kufikishwa mahakamani kwa Gire kunathibitisha kauli hiyo ya Pinda na sasa mambo mengi mapya yanasubiriwa katika kashfa hiyo iliyowekwa hadharani na Kamati Teule ya Bunge iliyoongozwa mbunge wa Kyela, Harrison Mwakyembe.

Kashfa hiyo ilitokana na tatizo kubwa la umeme lililoibuka miaka miwili iliyopita, mara baada ya serikali ya awamu ya nne kuingia madarakani. Ukosefu huo wa umeme ulitokana na ukame mkubwa ulioikumba nchi kiasi cha kusababisha serikali kutafuta umeme mbadala badala ya ule unaotengenezwa katika mabwawa ya maji ambayo kwa wakati huo mengi yalikuwa hayana maji ya kutosha.

Kesi ya Gire ni mwendelezo wa harakati za serikali kushughulikia tuhuma za ufisadi. Katika robo ya mwisho ya mwaka jana, serikali iliwapandisha kizimbani watu wanaotuhumiwa kujichotea jumla ya Sh133 bilioni kutoka Akaunti ya Malipo ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA) katika kipindi cha mwaka 2005/06.

Watu 21 wameshapandishwa kizimbani, akiwemo mfanyabiashara maarufu, Jeetu Patel. Pia waziri wa zamani wa Fedha na Uchumi, Basil Mramba na waziri wa zamani wa Nishati na Madini, Daniel Yona wamepandishwa kizimbani kwa tuhuma za kutumia vibaya ofisi zao na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya zaidi ya Sh11 bilioni.

Katika kesi hiyo ameunganishwa Katibu Mkuu wa zamani wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Gray Mgonja kwa makosa kama hayo.

 

[Jitume]

Kigogo wa Richmond aburuzwa kortini

SASA ni dhahiri kwamba, serikali ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete haina mzaha katika kushughulikia tuhuma za ufisadi baada ya kumfikisha mahakamani mfanyabiashara, Naeem Adam Gire kujibu shtaka la kughushi na kutoa taarifa za uongo kuhusu uwezo wa Kampuni ya Richmond.

Tayari serikali imeshawafikisha mahakamani watuhumiwa 21 kwenye sakata la wizi wa jumla ya Sh133 bilioni, mawaziri wawili wa zamani na katibu mkuu wa wizara kwa makosa ya kutumia vibaya ofisi; na jana ilikuwa zamu ya kashfa iliyoitikisa nchi mwaka jana kuhusu utoaji wa zabuni ya ufuaji umeme wa dharura kwa Richmond.

Kashfa hiyo, iliyoingia hadi ndani ya Bunge la Muungano, ilisababisha aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu, Edward Lowassa kujiuzulu baada ya kuhusishwa na sakata hilo. Baadaye mawaziri wawili wa serikali ya awamu ya nne, Nazir Karamagi na Ibrahim Msabaha, nao waliachia ngazi.

Jana, Gire alipandishwa kizimbani majira ya saa 9:00 alasiri kujibu tuhuma za kueleza uongo kuwa Richmond ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 100 za umeme nchini.

Mbele ya Hakimu Mkazi wa Kisutu, Wariyalwande Lema, Gire alisomewa mashtaka yake na wakili wa serikali, Boniface Stanslaus ambaye alidai kuwa Machi 13 mwaka 2006 jijini Dar es Salaam, mshtakiwa alighushi nyaraka akionyesha kwamba, Mohamed Gire, ambaye ni mwenyekiti wa Richmond Development Company LLC ya Texas nchini Marekani, alisaini kumruhusu Naeem Adam Gire kufanya shughuli za kampuni hiyo hapa nchini.

Katika shtaka la pili, wakili huyo alidai kuwa Machi 20 mwaka 2006 katika eneo la Ubungo Umeme, mshtakiwa alitoa hati za uongo zilizoonyesha kwamba, Mohamed Gire amezisaini kumuidhinisha kufanya shughuli za kampuni hiyo nchini.

Katika shtaka la tatu mshtakiwa huyo anadaiwa kutoa taarifa za uongo kwa wajumbe wa Bodi ya Zabuni ya Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco), kwamba Kampuni ya Richmond ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 100 za umeme nchini.

Inadaiwa kuwa, mshtakiwa huyo alitoa taarifa hizo ili wajumbe wa bodi hiyo waipendekeze Kampuni ya Richmond kufanya kazi hiyo.

Wakili huyo alidai kuwa, katika shtaka la nne mwezi Juni mwaka 2006, mshtakiwa alitoa taarifa za uongo kwa wajumbe wa Timu ya Majadiliano ya Serikali kwamba, Richmond ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 100 za umeme ili wajumbe hao waweze kuipendekeza.

Kwa mujibu wa wakili huyo, mshtakiwa huyo anadaiwa katika shtaka la tano kuwa mwezi Juni mwaka 2006, alitoa nyaraka za kughushi akionyesha kwamba Mohamed Gire amezisaini kumuidhinisha mshtakiwa kufanya shughuli za kampuni hiyo Tanzania.

Hata hivyo, upande wa mashtaka ulidai kuwa upelelezi wa kesi hiyo bado haujakamilika. Wakili anayemtetea mshtakiwa huyo, Kato Zake aliiomba mahakama kutoa masharti nafuu ya dhamana kwa kuwa makosa anayotuhumiwa yanaruhusu kupata dhamana.

"Tunaomba masharti nafuu ya dhamana kwa sababu mshtakiwa wakati wote amekuwa akitoa ushirikiano katika upelelezi na afya yake sio nzuri," alisema Zake. Wakili huyo pia alidai mshtakiwa huyo alikuwa anafuatilia hati yake ya kusafiria kwa ajili ya kwenda kwenye matibabu na kwamba ameshatoa baadhi ya hati zake za nyumba kwa Jeshi la Polisi.

Baada ya kusikiliza hoja zote, Hakimu Lema aliahirisha kesi hiyo hadi leo atakapotoa uamuzi wa dhamana. Akiongea na wahariri mwishoni mwa mwaka jana, Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda aliwatoa hofu wananchi akisema kuwa, tuhuma nyingi za ufisadi zinashughulikiwa na kwamba katika uchunguzi huo mambo mengi mapya yamebainika.

Kufikishwa mahakamani kwa Gire kunathibitisha kauli hiyo ya Pinda na sasa mambo mengi mapya yanasubiriwa katika kashfa hiyo iliyowekwa hadharani na Kamati Teule ya Bunge iliyoongozwa mbunge wa Kyela, Harrison Mwakyembe.

Kashfa hiyo ilitokana na tatizo kubwa la umeme lililoibuka miaka miwili iliyopita, mara baada ya serikali ya awamu ya nne kuingia madarakani. Ukosefu huo wa umeme ulitokana na ukame mkubwa ulioikumba nchi kiasi cha kusababisha serikali kutafuta umeme mbadala badala ya ule unaotengenezwa katika mabwawa ya maji ambayo kwa wakati huo mengi yalikuwa hayana maji ya kutosha.

Kesi ya Gire ni mwendelezo wa harakati za serikali kushughulikia tuhuma za ufisadi. Katika robo ya mwisho ya mwaka jana, serikali iliwapandisha kizimbani watu wanaotuhumiwa kujichotea jumla ya Sh133 bilioni kutoka Akaunti ya Malipo ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA) katika kipindi cha mwaka 2005/06.

Watu 21 wameshapandishwa kizimbani, akiwemo mfanyabiashara maarufu, Jeetu Patel. Pia waziri wa zamani wa Fedha na Uchumi, Basil Mramba na waziri wa zamani wa Nishati na Madini, Daniel Yona wamepandishwa kizimbani kwa tuhuma za kutumia vibaya ofisi zao na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya zaidi ya Sh11 bilioni.

Katika kesi hiyo ameunganishwa Katibu Mkuu wa zamani wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Gray Mgonja kwa makosa kama hayo.

Miaka ya nyuma Mch Mtikila alifungua kesi mahakamani dhidi ya serikali akipinga sheria inayozuia mgombea binafsi wa urais wa JMT,Sheria ya takrima, dhamana ya Shs 5Mil kwa kupinga matokeo ya ubunge nk. Sheria ambazo hatimaye zilibatirishwa.

Taasisi binafsi za kisheria na hasa za haki za kiraia haziwezi kuipeleka serikali/waendesha mashtaka wake mahakamani kwa kupeleka mashitaka dhaifu kwa makosa yaliyo wazi kwa mjibu wa sheria, makosa yaliyokwisha fanyiwa uchunguzi na tume lasmi kwa kutumia pesa nyingi za wananchi? Tume ambayo ilithibitisha ukiukwaji wa sheria na matumizi mabaya ya madaraka ya umma?

Naomba kuelimishwa.

 

[Ngisibara]

halafu watu wawe makini.. kama inavyosema kuwa "the devil is in the details". Hivi mmejiuliza huyo jamaa ameshitakiwa kwa makosa gani? So, la maana ni kujiuliza "hakushtakiwa kwa makosa gani"... ..

Hii inanikumbusha kesi ya Saileth Vithlani ambaye naye alishtakiwa kwa 'kusema uongo'..

Hivi kusema uongo na kutoa taarifa ya uongo adhabu yake ni sawa na adhabu ya kuibia Taifa mabillion? na kama ni kusema uongo na kutoa taarifa za uongo mbona Lowassa, Karamagi, na Bangusilo hawajajumuishwa?

 

[Bongolander]

Kama Muungwana nataumia platform ya kupambana na ufisadi kujijenga kwa 2010 naona mimi ntakuwa wa kwanza kumpigia kura. Lazima tukubali ukweli kuwa tatizo la Tanzania si umaskini ni UFISADI, kama mtu yuko serious kupambana na ufisadi Tanzania basi huyo ndiye anatufaa. NI much better kuwa na rais mchovu lakini anayepambana na ufisadi, kuliko kuwa na rais msomi, fisadi, anayelea, kulinda na kufuga mafisadi. Kwa mtu yoyote mwenye akili timamu na anayejua kuwa nchi yetu imepoteza mwelekeo kutokana na ufisadi, lazima atafurahia kusikia kuwa japo kuna kitu kinafanyika kupambana na ufisadi, hata kama ni kutokana na pressure ya donors.

Lakini still, bado mashitaka yanatia wasiwasi, kuna baadhi ya mashitaka adhabu zake zinakuwa za kuchekesha sana. Mtu anagushi na kuiba mamilioni, halafu hatimaye anahukumiwa kutoshiriki tena kwenye biashara fulani. Au unaweza kusikia kuwa anafungwa kifungo cha nje, hizi ndio doubts zinakuja na hawa prosecutors wetu. Prosecution zao zinaonesha wazi kuwa ni kama hawa jamaa wanashitakiwa kwa makosa ya madai. Just my opinion. Prosecution team wanatakiwa kuweka kesi za wizi ambazo ziko wazi na ushahidi uko wazi. Kwanini hawafanyi hivyo??

 

[Mpita Njia]

Kigogo wa Richmond aburuzwa kortini

SASA ni dhahiri kwamba, serikali ya Rais Jakaya Kikwete haina mzaha katika kushughulikia tuhuma za ufisadi...

Tumeshaanza kulishwa sumu tena. hakuna mzaha kwa mashitaka kama haya?!? Hivi katika kashfa kama ta Richmond all we can afford ni kumfungulia mtu mashika mbuzi kama haya halafu tuanza kusifia kuwa serikali haina mzaha. labda hatujui ni nini maana ya mzaha kwa sababu nikilnganisha uzito wa kashfa hii, mashitaka haya ni mzaha mbaya sana kwa watanzania

 

[FairPlayer]

Yangu macho...

 

[Bongolander]

Hapo nahisi lazima kuna watu wanatolewa kafara haswa dagaa na mapapa tunayo yahitaji tuyatafune yanaendelea kukingiwa kifua. Ngoja tusubili.

Bandubandu humaliza gogo, kama sio rahisi kulivunja lote bandua bandua taratibu mpaka litakwisha, pamoja na kuwa tuko pesmistic tunatakiwa kuvuta subira, tulipofika pametoa signal kuwa kuna possibility ya hao mapapa nao wakafikishwa kwenye mkno wa sheria.

 

[Mchaga]

Yangu macho...

Kiini macho...

 

[Halisi]

well.. si mlitaka Richmond wafikishwe mahakamani ndiyo hivyo tena!

Hapo umenena mzee mwenzangu, na tusubiri Kagoda watakapofikishwa mahakamani kina John Kyomuhendo na Mwenzake William halafu tutaambiwa, "si mlitaka Kagoda, si ndio haooo?" hii ndio Tanzania

 

[Mtanzania]

Hivi kama Gire anafikishwa mahakamani kwa kosa la udanganyifu na mkataba hewa, kwa nini basi Serikali na Tanesco bado zinailipa Dowans na kuna kesi Paris ya madai liyofunguliwa na Dowans dhidi ya Serikali ya Tanzania na Tanesco?

Does this make any sense?

Rev. Kishoka,

Hapa inabidi tuwe waangalifu na kuhakikisha tunawapeleka mahakamani watu ambao kuna chance ya kuwashinda na hivyo kuadhibiwa na sio kuishia wao kuidai serikali fidia.

Ngumu sana kuwashitaki hawa akina Gire kwa makosa tofauti na hayo wanayoshitakiwa sasa. Labda ikishathibitishwa kwamba ni kweli walidanganya au walitumia documents za forgery hapo itakuwa rahisi kudai fidia au kuomba kurudishiwa pesa ambazo tuliwalipa.

Makosa anayoshitakiwa nayo jamaa ni madogo sana ukilinganisha na wizi waliotufanyia, lakini nafikiri ni bora kuwa makini ili angalau wapatikane na hatia kwanza.

Kwa wanasiasa kama Lowassa itakuwa ngumu sana kumpeleka mahakamani kwa hili. Hata kama tungependa awajibike kwa ujambazi wake lakini huenda ikawa ngumu labda mpaka kama tutafanikiwa kufuata pesa mpaka kuzikuta zinaenda kwake. Wenzetu walioendelea wanasema follow the money mpaka unafika kwa big man mwenyewe. Sijui kwa systems zetu za TZ kama tuna uwezo huo.

Kinachonifurahisha mimi kwa hawa mafisadi kuanza kukamatwa ni kwamba in future wafanyabiashara wengi wata,kuwa makini inapokuja deals za wanasiasa na hivyo kusaidia
kupunguza tatizo la ufisadi TZ.

JK anaanza kuamka ingawaje speed yake bado ni ndogo ukilinganisha na tatizo lenyewe. Ilitakiwa sheria ziwe zinatungwa na kubanwa ili kuziba mianya yote ya ufisadi, kuongeza miaka ya vifungo kwa mafisadi na hata kuingiza sheria za kufilisi mali zao wakipatikana na hatia. Wengine tunamtakia heri ili afanikiwe maana nchi ilikokuwa inaenda kulikuwa kubaya hasa.

 

[Zogwale]

"Take it easy, the United Republic of Tanzania". Substantiate the phrase!!!!

 

[Halisi]

"Take it easy, the United Republic of Tanzania". Substantiate the phrase!!!!

Naem Gire, amekosa dhamana na leo amekwenda Keko tena. Alitakiwa kutoa Sh milioni 100 bond na si cash, na wadhamini walikuja lakini wakaishia kwa mawakili, wamezungumza na Hakimu kawaambia hadi kesho

 

[Kituko]

unajua tunaweza tukaona labda serikali imeamua kufanya kweli, lakini kinachofanyika ni kiini macho tu, kwa sababu wahusika wakuu wa kesi zote zilizopo mahakamani wanaonekana wako mbali sana, cha ajabu watu ambao hawana utaalamu wa kuinvestigate (Mwakyembe at el)waliunganisha cheni yote ya Richmond, sasa iweje wataalau wa upelelezi mpaka leo hawajapata hoja ya kuwapeleka mahakamani?
hebu angalia kasi ya Balozi Costa Mahalu, kila kitu kipo ubaoni lakini watajafungwa watu wengine kabisa

 

[Mpita Njia]

Naem Gire, amekosa dhamana na leo amekwenda Keko tena. Alitakiwa kutoa Sh milioni 100 bond na si cash, na wadhamini walikuja lakini wakaishia kwa mawakili, wamezungumza na Hakimu kawaambia hadi kesho

Hicho kiwango cha Sh100 million wamecalculate kutoka wapi?

 

[BAK]

Richmond case lands in court: Key official indicted, but no mention of the real big-shots

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam​

THE infamous Richmond power generation scandal has finally landed in court with one of the principals of the dubious company, Naeem Adam Gire, charged with several counts of fraud.

Gire, a key figure behind the controversial Richmond Development Company LLC of Texas in the United States, is the sole accused person in criminal case number 15 of 2009 brought for the first time before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

But there was no immediate mention of former prime minister Edward Lowassa, ex-government ministers Nazir Karamagi and Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, or Igunga Member of Parliament Rostam Aziz, who were all implicated in the Richmond corruption scandal by a parliamentary committee just under a year ago.

Lowassa and the two ex-ministers (Karamagi and Dr Msabaha) were forced to resign from President Jakaya Kikwete's cabinet in February last year after the scathing parliamentary committee probe report inexorably linked them to the monumental scandal.

In yesterday's proceedings at the Kisutu court, prosecutors charged Gire with five counts of forgery, uttering false documents, and giving false information to persons employed in public service.

In the first count, Gire was charged with forging a legal document dated March 13, 2006, purporting to show that the chairman of Richmond, one Mohamed Gire, had signed a power of attorney authorising the accused person to carry on the business of the US company in Tanzania.

He was furthermore alleged to have uttered this forged power of attorney document at the headquarters of the state-run Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) in Dar es Salaam on March 20, 2006.

According to prosecutors, Gire gave false information to members of TANESCO's tender board on the same day (March 20, 2006), claiming that Richmond was capable of producing 100 megawatts of electricity to Tanzania.

It was alleged that such false information given by the accused person was intended to ''cause the members of TANESCO's tender board to recommend the said Richmond Development Company LLC for selection'' for the emergency power generation contract award.

Prosecutors also charged Gire with giving members of a government negotiation team false information that the US company was indeed capable of producing the required electricity.

Members of the government negotiation team involved in the talks with Gire and other Richmond officials were drawn from the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Tanzania, Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Attorney General's Chambers, and TANESCO.

Minutes of the official contract negotiations, as seen by THISDAY, show that the government negotiation team was chaired by the then assistant commissioner for debt policy in the Ministry of Finance, Singi Madata.

Among other things, the team was given the mandate of negotiating the technical, commercial and legal aspects of the contract.

The government negotiation team under Madata, who has since been appointed board chairman of the state-run Rural Energy Agency (REA), is understood to have finally awarded the contract to Richmond � despite strong opposition from TANESCO.

According to an independent report prepared by the state-run Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), there was remarkable ''political influence'' and interference by ''higher authorities'' in government in the awarding of the tender to Richmond.

It remains to be seen if the stated 'higher authorities' in government will also be arraigned in court over the Richmond scandal.

The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) previously came under fire from members of parliament after its initial investigation into the Richmond contract controversially failed to detect any criminal wrong-doing.

Gire, whose court appearance yesterday was before Resident Magistrate Wariarwandwe Lema, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was sent to remand prison until today, when the Kisutu court will consider his bail plea.

His defence counsel, Kato Zake, asked the court to grant bail to the accused under ''lenient conditions'', on grounds that Gire's health is failing.

Advocate Zake also argued that Gire was entitled to bail because he has already surrendered his passport and a title deed of immovable property to the police.

The prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Boniface Stanislaus, did not object to the bail application.

 

[BAK]

Total cost of Richmond scandal 172 billion shillings is more than that of EPA 133 billion shilings

2009-01-14 09:43:00

Richmond boss charge, spends night in prison

Mr Naem Adam Gire is escorted to remand after being charged with forgery yesterday.
By Rosina John
THE CITIZEN

The $172 million Richmond scandal landed in court in Dar es Salaam yesterday, when the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) instituted charges against a senior company official.