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Govt might process Ballali`s extradition
2008-01-23 08:56:27
By Rose Mwalongo
The government has said it will seek extradition of former governor of the Bank of Tanzania Dr Daud Ballali, who is now in the USA, if he will be implicated in the External Payments Account (EPA) scandal.
Public Safety and Security minister Harith Mwapachu told The Guardian yesterday that all those involved in the scandal would be brought to justice.
Dr Ballali was sacked by President Kikwete early this month after the central bank under his leadership occasioned multi billion loses through dubious payments and dealing with phony companies in 2005.
Ballali was in the USA undergoing treatment when the President rescinded his appointment. He has not returned home yet.
President Kikwete had appointed a probe team to investigate companies and individuals who were involved in the shoddy deals.
Yesterday, Mwapachu said if Dr Ballali would happen to be one of the people implicated in the EPA scandal, he would definitely be required to return to the country to face justice.
Tanzania Ambassador to Washington Ombeni Sefue was quoted by the local media on Monday as saying that Dr Ballali, whose whereabouts has been the talk of town, is still in the USA.
He said Ballali, who he said was in stable condition, was receiving medical care in Boston, Massachusetts.
The US government withdrew Ballali’s visa last week following his removal from the post.
Mwapachu said the government could make use of the transnational crime treaty or the extradition treaty to get Dr Ballali back home should the presidential probe committee implicate him in the multi billion loss of public funds.
Asked as to whether they were sure that Ballali would not escape if implicated, Mwapachu said: ``You can run but you can`t hide in this world. It is the era of globalization.``
He, however, said he hoped things would not go to that extent, adding, ``He (Ballali) is aware of the allegations. We hope he will willingly come to answer the charges in case he is implicated.``
Speaking to The Guardian, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. Cyril Chami said he did not know when Ballali would return home.
``It is up to his doctors to decide. He is an individual who has gone for treatment and the world is big,`` he said.
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