TRA yet to pay whistleblower Sh210m reward

Dar es Salaam. A whistleblower whose information led to the disclosure of Sh7 billion tax evasion six months ago, has not been rewarded by Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), it has been revealed.

The Citizen has learnt that the information was given to the Criminal Investigation Department in Dar es Salaam with Reference No. CID/HQ/PE/151/2013, and the informant (name withheld) was to be paid Sh210 million. 

TRA has added a new weapon to its intelligence gathering arsenal by setting up a scheme of rewarding people who volunteer information on tax evasion.  The informer receives three per cent of the paid tax. 

“After being notified, TRA officials made an assessment and found out that the errant company was supposed to pay Sh7bn, including a fine. They went to court, but their case was thrown out,” a reliable source hinted yesterday. 

The source, who asked not to be named, revealed that, thereafter, the company had to pay Sh5bil, Sh2bn short of what was supposed to be paid. But when the informer demanded his three per cent pay, he was remanded at the Oysterbay Police Station. 

“He was arrested and held up for several hours while being questioned about his knowledge over the tax evasion by the company. This kind of things can discourage people from working with TRA,” the source hinted. 

Lawyer Peter Mshikilwa, who represents the TRA informer, yesterday confirmed to this paper that his client has not been paid despite all the evidence he has. 

Yesterday TRA director for tax Payer Services and Education Richard Kayombo called upon the informant to come forward with all his exhibits showing he was the one who gave the information. 

“If  the tax has been paid then the whistleblower has to be paid,” he said.

 the three percent. Let him come with exhibits showing he was the one who volunteered to inform us and I will assist him,” Kayombo said. 

Kayombo said.