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Police fugitive arraigned in Dar court
2006-03-07 09:12:09
By Lydia Shekighenda
One of the police officers accused of killing four people in Dar es Salaam, who had evaded police arrest appeared in court yesterday.
The officer surrendered to Dar es Salaam Zonal Police Commander, Alfred Tibaigana, on Friday last week, thus pre-empting a long chase that was in the offing after he had been reported to have gone into hiding upon his arrival from Egypt, where he was studying.
The officer, Ahmed Makella, appeared before the Principal Resident Magistrate, Francis Mutungi, at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court under tight security.
He is accused, together with 15 other police officers, of killing three businessmen and a taxi driver at Sinza in Dar es Salaam on January 14, this year.
Makella is among seven police officers that were being sought to answer charges of murder after they reportedly went underground to escape arrest.
He was recalled from Egypt where he was studying, but evaded arrest at the Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport upon his arrival.
He, however, surrendered himself to police on Friday. Six of his accomplices are still on the run and police last week published their names and pictures in the media calling on public to provide information on their whereabouts.
In total, 15 police officers are accused of taking part in the killing. Eight of them appeared in court two weeks ago.
The prosecution, amended the earlier charge to include Makella. The prosecutions said that, other six suspects were still at large and that when arrested they would also be arraigned in court.
’’If we arrest them, we shall lump them together with the other nine suspects,’’ said State Attorney George Mapinduzi.
The eight who appeared in court on February 20 this year are E671 Felix Cedrick, D/C Jane Andrew, D/CPL Nyongelera and ASP Christopher Bageni.
The others were CPC Emmanuel Magula, PC Michael, D2300 Abeneth and PC Noel.
Those still on the run are Cpl Saad Allawi, Cpl Rashid, Cpl Frank, Sergeant James, Cpl Festus and Corporal Rajab.
They are all accused of killing Sabinus Chigumbi, Ephrahim Chigumbi and Mathias Lugombe, all residents of Mahenge district in Morogoro and a taxi driver, Juma Ndugu, a resident of Manzese, Dar es Salaam.
Makella was remanded until March 23, when the case will come up for mention.
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