Police link Dar es Salaam house with Mo Dewji abduction

Dar es Salaam. The police have identified a house located at Mbezi Beach area where tycoon Mohammed Dewji was held by unknown abductors.

Briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Mr Lazaro Mambosasa, said the one-storey house has been confirmed as the place where the abductors hid Mr Dewji.

He said after the businessman was released by the abductors, the police continued with investigations and found out that he was kept at the house located at Mbezi Beach area, a few kilometres from the Old Bagamoyo road.

“The house where Mr Dewji was kept has been identified. It belongs to the late Mwansasu, but its ownership was changed after his death and is currently owned by his daughter,” said Mr Mambosasa.

However, he did not disclose the name of the current owner, adding that it was rented by South African businessmen.

Commander Mambosasa said the police are also holding a taxi driver and broker Twalibu Mussa, who are believed to have close ties with the abductors.

According to Mr Mambosasa, the lease agreement for the house was $1500 (over Sh3.4 million) on a monthly basis where the owner of the house was given only $1300 (Sh2.9 million) and Mr Mussa was paid the remaining $200 as his commission.

“Although the house looks posh, its seem that it was abandoned for a long time. Our investigations show that during his captivity Mr Dewji was kept in the ground floor bedroom with his hands and feet tied by ropes,” he said.

He explained that so far they are still holding 40 people in connection with the abduction of Mr Dewji.

Mr Mussa, who is a taxi driver stationed at Whitesands Hotel, said that he was the one who introduced the businessmen to the agents who enabled them to lease the house.

He explained that the day after the car that was linked with the abduction of Mr Dewji was abandoned at Gymkhana grounds, he was the one who drove the abductors to Ubungo Bus Terminal.