2 Dar tycoons in court over armed robbery
 
2006-03-08 08:04:27
By Guardian Reporter

	Businessman Alex Massawe appears in the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. However, charges against him were not read out due to a legal technicality. He is now due to be arraigned today. (Photo: Muhidin Sufiani)

Two Dar es Salaam prominent businessmen appeared in court yesterday to answer charges of harbouring gangsters and handling stolen property that includes motor vehicles.

Alex Massawe and Raymond Shauri appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s court.

The prosecution, led by Camillius Wambura, alleged that the first accused, Raymond Shauri had been harbouring criminals and concealing stolen property.

Wambura said that police, in their investigations in Dar es Salaam, had discovered that Shauri was among people involved in violent crime in the city.

He said that such activities indicated that the accused was a dangerous individual to society and as such Shauri was supposed to be under close police supervision.

Shauri’s lawyer, Peter Swai, objected to the claims saying the affidavit tendered in court did not prove that the claims directly relate to the accused.

Swai’s objection was accepted and the court gave the prosecution time to amend the affidavit for both Shauri and Massawe.

Massawe was arrested last Friday on allegations of harbouring thugs and concealing stolen property.

He is one of the high-profile businessmen that have in the recent weeks been arrested by the police for allegedly financing armed robbery and running a crime syndicate.

Massawe owns hotels and a chain of other businesses in Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

Other businessmen who have so far been arrested on similar allegations are based in Moshi municipality. They include Babu Sambeke, James Olaa and Elasmus Mallya.

The others are Agosti Ringi, Opaa, brothers Deo and John Lekule. Police interrogated them on Monday.

• SOURCE: Guardian