Tour operator wins land case

An Arusha-based tour operator Mathew Mollel is free to develop the land he had contested in court for the past four years.

The follows a court order which cleared him of alleged charges that he forged documents to legalise ownership of a plot at Levolosi.

Delivering the judgment, Resident Magistrate Gwantwa Mwankuga said the prosecution, which fielded 10 witnesses, failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Mollel forged the documents.

She said evidence tendered before the court by the accused indicated he did not forge the contested documents.

Ms Mwankuga said the applicant, Danhi Makanga, the former district commissioner, has the right to appeal against the court verdict within 45 days after the judgement if not satisfied.

Mr Mollel, who is the director of Rainbow Tours and Shuttles, is happy with the judgment.

The tour operator was defended by advocate Ephraim Koisenge. He said the judgement was based on the facts produced before the court, adding that his client is the rightful owners of the plot.

The case has dragged on for four years at the Resident Magistrates Court after the former government official accused the tour operator  of forging key documents.

Mr Mollel denied the allegations.

The case took a new twist in 2014 when the tour operator claimed armed police in the company of the ex-DC stormed his home in search of the title deed of the disputed piece of land.

The disputed plot number 231 is on block DD located at Mianzini in Arusha.

But Mr Makanga took the matter to court, alleging the defendant (Mr Mollel) had forged some documents of a meeting of a neighbourhood in Levolosi Ward to grab the land.

Mr Makanga, who at one time served as Kasulu DC, filed the case against Mr Mollel and had 10 witnesses on the his side. The latter fielded two witnesses.

Related story: Arusha land case judgement pushed to next week