Ponda whisked to jail as kin allege ‘kidnap’

Dar es Salaam. Controversial cleric Ponda Issa Ponda was yesterday whisked off from hospital to jail.

Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Suleiman Kova confirmed that Sheikh Ponda had been remanded at Segerea Prison a day after he was charged with incitement as he lay on a bed at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI).

“We were justified in taking him away after he was charged the previous day...he belongs in jail,” he said when asked whether police had acted legally .

Sheikh Ponda’s family condemned his removal from hospital as “kidnap”. “They have kidnapped him…this amounts to stealing a patient from a hospital,” said family spokesperson Isihaka Rashid.

Mr Rashid, who is Sheikh Ponda’s nephew, said they received news of his uncle’s transfer to jail with “profound shock”, adding that they no longer trusted the police.

He said they were surprised to see a doctor who had previously never attended to Sheikh Ponda arrive in mid-morning and inform them that the cleric was ready to be discharged.

“We requested that he stays in hospital for a little bit longer because the arm that had been operated on had begun to swell, but he turned down our appeal.”

Mr Rashid said several police officers entered the private ward at around 10am and ordered Sheikh Ponda’s wife to prepare him for the trip to Segerea Prison.

MOI officials who handed Mr Rashid the discharge sheet told him that the family could decide whether or not to settle the Sh1.1 million bill.

“They said it was up to us to pay the bill or not…we wonder who is going to pay up if we opt not to settle the bill,’’ he said.

Armed police officers arrived at MOI in four vans a few minutes to 10am.

Some entered the ward in which Sheikh Ponda was admitted and led him into a vehicle with civilian registration numbers parked outside.

He boarded the car, a white Toyota Land Cruiser, at around 10.20am and was in the company of several plainclothes police officers when the vehicle sped away.

Earlier, hospital officials could not say whether Sheikh Ponda was discharged or forcibly taken away.

MOI Public Relations Officer Almasi Jumaa told journalists that he would send them a statement by email.

“I want first to consult with my bosses before we can release an official statement,’’ he said.

However, he had not sent any statement by the time of going to press and his mobile phone went unanswered.

Sheikh Ponda was admitted to MOI on Sunday after he was wounded as police attempted to arrest him on Saturday.

His family and supporters claim he was shot by police.

Police initially denied using live ammunition during a confrontation with Sheikh Ponda and his supporters, but backtracked yesterday, saying they were questioning an officer suspected of firing a shot during the fracas.

Police spokesperson Advera Senso said any use of a firearm by a police officer was supposed to be investigated to establish the circumstances that led to the use of live ammunition.

Yesterday, Sheikh Ponda’s lawyer, Mr Juma Nassor, said he was not aware that his client had been discharged from MOI.

“I haven’t communicated with him, and I have yet to be informed that he is no longer in hospital. We will contemplate on what steps to take,’’ he said.

Sheikh Ponda was on Wednesday charged with incitement amid chaotic scenes at MOI where scores of his supporters demanded to be allowed to see him.

Dozens of riot police kept watch around MOI as charges were read out to the cleric. The case was adjourned to August 28 when it will come up for mention at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court.

In an unrelated development, police said four people were in custody on suspicion of being found with a hand grenade and a firearm.

Police spokesperson Advera Senso said the suspects were arrested following a tip-off that armed gangsters were planning to commit a robbery.

“Police laid a trap for the gangsters and recovered a bag which contained a hand grenade, firearm and 23 bullets,” she said.

Ms Senso said one of the suspects admitted smuggling the grenade from a neighbouring country.