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Mtikila in double jeopardy
2007-05-30 08:55:33
By Rosemary Mirondo
Reverend Christopher Mtikila (58) yesterday appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam, charged with assaulting a security guard with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties identified as Maimuna Msuya.
The fiery Democratic Party Chairman`s arrest and subsequent arraignment come only three days since he filed a petition in the High Court against a court downgrading a murder charge against former Tabora Regional Commissioner Ukiwaona Ditopile Mzuzuri to manslaughter.
The ruling in connection with the former RC, who is out on bail, was given by the High Court in Dar es Salaam
Assistant Commissioner of Police Charles Kenyella submitted before Resident Magistrate Catherine Revocati yesterday that Mtikila assaulted Msuya, a resident of the city’s Keko suburb, by beating her with slaps and fists.
The court further heard that the offence was committed on February 19 this year at the offices of the Registrar of Political Parties on Shaaban Robert Street in Dar es Salaam.
The accused, who was represented by advocate Daimu Halfani, denied the charge.
Through his counsel, Mtikila asked the court to grant him bail. He stated that bail was a constitutional right for everyone.
To buttress the plea, counsel Halfani told the court that his client was a famous and reliable person who would not jump bail.
Halfani also asked the court to allow his client to bail himself or, if that was not possible, for the court to attach mild conditions to the bail.
Responding to the lawyer’s submission, Kenyella said the prosecution had no objection to the granting of bail `because the offence is bailable under the law`.
But the magistrate stated before granting the bail that, although the offence was bailable, the accused could not bail himself.
She said in case of non-appearance of the accused before the court, a surety would be required to report to court, and hence the need for sureties.
The magistrate then ordered the accused to sign a bond of 2m/- and present to the court two reliable sureties who would also be required to signed bonds for a similar amount.
The accused met all the bail conditions and was freed. The case was then adjourned to June 25 this year.
But no sooner had Mtikila completed attending to the bail conditions at the court than he was immediately re-arrested and taken to Chang’ombe Police Station, allegedly for interrogation in connection with another incident in which he is alleged to have hit a daladala driver.
It was not known whether he was later released. By the time we went to press, his mobile phone was still switched off.
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