Court removes Lauwo from facing criminal charges alongside three Simba Sports Club top leaders

Dar es Salaam. The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court has dropped charges facing city businessman Franklyn Lauwo from a case facing Simba Sports Club top leaders.

The decision was made on Friday, October 19 by Principal Magistrate Thomas Simba following failure by the prosecution to bring the accused person to the court.

Mr Lauwo was accused of running contractual activities without being licensed and that the company he owned, Ranky, was not registered by the Contractor’s Registration Board (CRB).

Senior state ttorney Shadrack Kimaro, who collaborated with Mr Mutalemwa Kishenyi, demanded that Mr Lauwo was yet to submit himself before the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB).

"Lauwo was today expected to surrender himself at the PCCB, unfortunately he has failed to do that. However, our PCCB counterparts said he hasn’t surrendered,” he said, adding: “Therefore, under Section 91(1) of the Criminal Procedures Act (CPA), we pray your court to drop the accused person from the charge sheet in order for the case to continue.”

After the submissions, Magistrate Simba dropped charges, noting that the court will now have to proceed for preliminary hearing with three suspects instead of four.

Simba Sports Club leaders arraigned at the court include its President Evans Aveva, vice president, Godfrey Nyange and club’s registration chairman Zacharia Hans Poppe.

They are facing charges of abuse of powers leading to transaction of the club’s money without authorisation of the Central Committee.

The three are also accused of forgery and submitting fake documents. Mr Aveva and Mr Kaburu are also facing money laundering charges.