Three Tanzanian police officers charged with accepting Sh55 million bribes

Songwe. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Songwe Region yesterday arraigned three police officers before the Momba District Court on Tuesday, June 3, for, allegedly, soliciting and receiving a Sh55 million bribe.

The officers were dragged before the Momba District Court are Corporal Enock Marando (43), Corporal Samson Kalebe (38), and Police Constable Zawadi Malakasuka (39).

They appeared before Magistrate Timothy Lyon at the Momba District Court.

According to the PCCB prosecutor, Ms Simona Mapunda, the alleged crime occurred on March 7, 2024, at the Tunduma border post. Ms Mapunda detailed that the accused officers, all employed by the Tanzania Police Force, solicited the hefty bribe from a businesswoman named Ms Halima Abdallah.

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Mr Mapunda claimed that on the said day, the accused, who were Police Force employees, solicited a Sh55 million bribe from a businesswoman, Ms Halima Abdallah.

The prosecution further argued that the officers' actions constituted a clear violation of Section 15(1) and (2) of the Anti-Corruption Act.  Ms. Mapunda emphasized that the demand for the bribe suspiciously followed the confiscation of a shipment of banned cosmetics by the officers.

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All three accused persons denied charges levelled against them.

Magistrate Lyon adjourned the case until June 18, this year, when it is slated to come for a preliminary hearing (PH).

The accused were remanded in custody after the court denied bail due to the sureties' inability to meet the court-imposed bail conditions.

The bail conditions required each accused person to have two sureties with immovable property worth Sh22.5 million each.

The accused were also required to provide a written bond of Sh19 million each.