By
Our Correspondent, Dar es salaam
A
total of 467 people accused of economic sabotage crimes in Tanzania have
written to the country’s Director of Public Prosecution to apply for an amnesty
introduced by President John Magufuli.
Last
week, President Magufuli advised the country’s Director of Public Prosecution
(DPP) Biswalo Mganga to open his doors to all economic crimes suspects who were
ready to confess and return the funds they are alleged to have illegally
accumulated, in exchange for their freedom.
Economic
crimes, most notably money laundering, are not bailable in Tanzania. All 467
accused are in detention, some for more than three years.
Since
coming to power Magufuli has been waging an anti-corruption war that has led to
dozens of officials losing their jobs and many others, including tycoons,
sports executive and traders, being charged.
Investigative
journalist Erick Kabendera has also been charged with economic crimes, although
at first authorities said they were investigating him for questions surrounding
his citizenship.
According
to Mganga, the suspects who have reached his office will return to the state
the sum of Tsh107 billion ($46.5 million).
The
president’s amnesty was first announced on 22 September. On Monday, he extended
it for a week after being briefed that there were still people unable to apply
in the first week.
Magufuli
said some of the suspects were languishing in remand prison and he was ready to
pardon them provided that they confessed, repented and returned the funds.
Those
who decide not to take up his offer “will continue with prosecution even if
their cases will take 20 years”, he said.
The
President advised the DPP to "expedite these applications".
"If
they will continue to remain in prison for months or a year, the notion of
amnesty will lose its value,” he said. - Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment