The Kisutu Resident Magistrates’ Court in Dar es Salaam is expected on Monday to deliver its judgment in the trial of former Cabinet minister Arcado Ntagazwa, who is charged together with two others with obtaining good worth 74m/- by false pretences.
Arcado Ntagazwa
Senior Resident Magistrate Geni Dudu was scheduled to give the verdict against the accused persons last Friday, but failed to do so because part of the judgment was yet to be typed.
Friday’s session was the second adjournment. While waiting to enter into the courtroom to hear judgment, Ntagazwa appeared confident as if he was sure that he would secure an acquittal. He was seen speaking with journalists and confidently taking photographs before going to hear the verdict.
To the disappointment of some people in the court premises who were following the proceedings, the verdict could not be read. Other accused persons are the ex-minister’s, son Webhale Ntagazwa, and one Senator Julius Miselya.
The prosecution alleges that the trio is charged with obtaining 5,000 caps and 5,000 t-shirts worth 74.95m/- belonging to Mr Noel Severe under fraudulent means.
During preliminary hearing at the beginning of the trial, Ntagazwa, who worked with various ministries in the first and second phase of the government before defecting to the opposition camp, had denied knowing the transaction, but when giving his defence testimony in August this year he admitted liability.
The ex-minister had told the court that he had admitted liability before the police and cheated them, notably the Zonal Crime Officer (ZCO) Ahmed Msangi, that he was ready to be taken to court in default of paying the amount so as to avoid continuous harassments from the law enforcers.
In their further defence evidence, the accused persons had admitted to have taken the consignment, but threw the ball to each other on the responsibility of issuing the payment of the money that lead to their prosecution on the criminal charge.
The prosecution, led by State Attorney Charles Anindo, had alleged that the accused persons committed the offence on October 22, 2009 at Msasani Mikoroshini area. It is alleged that the accused had promised to pay the owner of the said goods within one month while it was false.
By FAUSTINE KAPAMA, Tanzania Daily News
