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Don`t rush for EPA revelations - AG
2008-03-10 09:13:53
By Guardian Reporter
Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika has urged members of the public to give a chance to the presidential task force on the EPA account scandal to complete its task within the earmarked period.
``We remind the populace and news fraternity that the team was given six months to complete its task and submit its report to the President. This is just the second month since our work commenced. We therefore call for patience.
We assure you that the work is progressing well,`` read the statement issued by the Attorney General, who chairs the presidential committee.
On January 8, 2008, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete formed a tripartite committee comprising the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau.
The team was assigned to investigate and take legal action against firms and individuals responsible for the loss of 133bn/- from the External Payments Account of the Bank of Tanzania, which occurred through dubious transactions.
Recently, the government announced that it had already recovered 53bn/- through the efforts of the task force, and was confident of getting the bulk of the stolen amount.
However, there have been growing calls for the government to name all individuals implicated in the scandal.
Last week, human rights activists called for arrest and prosecution of the culprits.
At the same time, it has been reported in the local media that the Government is considering seeking Interpol`s help after a special task force investigating the EPA account scandal managed to trace only 12bn/- shillings out of 70bn/- said to have been illegally paid to business tycoon Jeetu Patel, who heads the long list of suspects and is currently said to be at large.
However, in the statement issued yesterday, Attorney General Mwanyika said that apart from its many terms of reference, the team had entrenched itself in conducting a professional in-depth investigation.
``In spite of the money that had been recovered, the investigation has not yet come to an end. The team deems it appropriate not to issue any information that would negatively impact on on-going investigations,`` he said.
The AG concluded that the committee would continue to give information on matters that would not hinder the on-going probe.
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