The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday granted permission to former cabinet minister Basil Mramba to visit his Rombo constituency in Kilimanjaro Region from December 1 to 12.

Defence lawyer Karoli Tarimo requested the court to give permission to his client because he had work to do in Rombo District.

The prosecution said the case had come up to hear the first accused's (Mramba) request to be given back his title deeds after bail conditions were reduced.

The court was also informed that the defence had been requested to submit an application form but so far they had not served it to the prosecution.

Tarimo said they had failed to serve the application form as the court had ordered because advocate Nyange had travelled to Moshi for a funeral and after coming back he had again travelled to Mtwara.

However, the panel of magistrates, led by John Utamwa, ordered the defence to submit the application form next week.

The case was adjourned to December 18, this year, when hearing resumes.

In the case, former Finance minister Mramba and former minister for Minerals and Energy Daniel Yona and Treasury permanent secretary Gray Mgonja are charged with several counts of abuse of office, exempting tax and occasioning loss.

The charges read that between 2003 and 2007 they wilfully failed to take reasonable care in discharging their duties in a reasonable manner and unjustifiably signed government notices no. 423/2003, 424/2003, 497/2004, 498/2004, 377/2005 and 378/2005 which had the effect of exempting tax to Alex Stewart Assayers company, thereby occasioned loss to the government to the tune of 11,752,350,148/-.