Airport drama as Sh1.4bn fraud suspect is arrested

[BAK]

05.11.2008 @01:57 EAT

Airport drama as Sh1.4bn fraud suspect is arrested
By Mkinga Mkinga and Rosina John
THE CITIZEN

Police arrested a key suspect in the theft of more than Sh1.4 billion from Barclays Bank Tanzania Limited, after foiling his escape bid the airport in Dar es Salaam yesterday morning.

The officers pounced on the man at Julius Nyerere International Airport, at 11 am, as he was reportedly waiting to fly out following the arrest of scores of the bank's employees over the fraud.

The acting Dar es Salaam special police zone commander, Mr Everist Mangala, told The Citizen the arrest could be a major breakthrough in the investigation into the syndicate in which some of the bank's employees colluded with dealers to steal millions of shillings.

As the drama was unfolding at the airport, six bank employees, including three managers, were charged in the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's court with stealing more than Sh1 billion from their employer in fraudulent deals.

They were arrested on Sunday after the fraud was uncovered.

At the airport yesterday morning, plainclothes detectives seized the suspect, a Dar transport company manager, who is believed to have received $80,500 (more than Sh100 million) of the bank loot.

Airport workers told The Citizen that the man was whisked away from the queue as soon as he presented his travel documents for clearance.

"He was told to step aside, appeared stunned and trembled. He tried to argue with the officers but was led to a waiting van and driven away as other travellers watched without knowing what was going on," a Customs official said.

The Citizen could not immediately establish where the suspect intended to travel to. Mr Mangala said the officers were convinced he may have been trying to flee the country.

"It's true that we have a suspect in custody and he is being questioned in connection with the Barclays Bank theft of Sh1.4 billion," he said.

Though not a bank employee, documents seized from the other suspects indicated that he may have been linked to the racket involving staff members and some merchants.

Sources within the bank said the racketeers had interfered with the electronic money transfer system to steal the money.

The bank's officials are understood to have asked experts at the parent company's headquarters in the United Kingdom to break the code.

Managing Director Rished Bade, who reportedly discovered the fraud, declined to comment when contacted by The Citizen.

But Police boss Mangala said they were following several leads indicating that most of the stolen funds had been channelled to the suspect�s accounts in another major bank in Dar es Salaam.

Police said they were concerned about the increasing incidence of thefts by syndicates colluding with the employees of financial institutions.

The Barclays theft follows several others, in which mobile telephone companies have been the main casualties.

Vodacom Tanzania Limited lost a whopping Sh2.6 billion last July. Six suspects have since been arrested and their case is pending in court.

Employers have been warning that the sharp increase in thefts involving staff poses a big threat to the economy, as it may discourage investment.

The six suspects who appeared before Resident Magistrate Euphemia Mingi listened keenly as the prosecutor, Assistant Commissioner of Police Charles Kenyella, read the nine charges to them.

The suspects are managers Winford Mang'onda, Shubira Mutungi, and Upendo Mushi. The others are staffers Neema Saria, Margareth Longway, and Boniface Mukone.

They all denied the charges and were remanded in custody until tomorrow, when the court will rule on their bail applications.

The prosecution alleges that on October 28, they jointly conspired to defraud Barclays Bank of $1,081,263.

The six, who were based at the bank's head office on Ohio Street in downtown Dar es Salaaam, and others not in court, the charge sheet states, stole the money by forging swift messages number, SEQ 000041, SEQ 00356, SEQ 000305, dated October 27.

The swift messages purported to show that they were genuinely issued to Kigamboni Oil Communication Company and a Mr Ramadhani Hamis for the transfer of the money through accounts number 0018001993 and 0157001698.

Mr Alex Mgongolwa, representing the suspects, objected to the prosecution's appeal that they be remanded in custody, arguing that the charges were bailable.

His clients, he said, had been in custody since Sunday and, therefore, police had enough time to prepare their case.

 

[BAK]

Wafanyakazi wa Barclays kortini kwa wizi
Mariam Mogella
Daily News; Tuesday,November 04, 2008 @21:45

Wafanyakazi sita wa Benki ya Barclays jana walifikishwa katika Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu, Dar es Salaam kwa tuhuma za wizi wa dola za Marekani milioni 1.8 (takriban Sh bilioni 2.16).

Mwendesha Mashitaka Kamishna Msaidizi wa Polisi (ACP), Charles Kenyella, mbele ya Hakimu Mkazi Euphamia Mingi aliwataja watuhumiwa kuwa ni Winford Mwamonda (34), Shubira Mutungi (24), Neema Salia (26), Upendo Mushi (30), Margareth Longway (33) na Emmanul Mukono (40).

Kenyella alidai watuhumiwa wote wanakabiliwa na mashitaka tisa; la kwanza likiwa ni kula njama za kudanganya Oktoba 29, mwaka huu Dar es Salaam, wote waliiba dola za Marekani milioni 1.8. Katika shitaka la pili, washitakiwa wote Agosti 28, mwaka huu, wanadaiwa kughushi ujumbe wa kasi wa kibenki kuonyesha kwamba ujumbe huo ni halisi uliokuwa umetumwa kwenda Kigamboni Oil Limited kwa akaunti namba 0018001993 kuhamisha dola 299,974.000.

Shitaka la tatu ni kwa watuhumiwa wote kuwa Oktoba 27, mwaka huu Dar es Salaam kwa udanganyifu, walighushi ujumbe wa kasi wa kibenki wenye namba 000356 wa Oktoba 27, kuwa umetumwa kwa Ramadhani Hamisi kupitia akaunti 015701698 kwa dola za Marekani 80,500.

Shitaka la nne ni kwa watuhumiwa wote kuwa Oktoba 27, mwaka huu, walighushi ujumbe wa kasi wa kibenki wenye namba 00305 kuonyesha kwa ujumbe huo ni halisi ulikuwa umetumwa kwa Kigamboni Oil Limited kwa akaunti namba 0018001993 kwa dola 700,769.

Shitaka la tano kwa mtuhumiwa wa kwanza hadi wa tano ni kumwezesha mtu kutenda kosa la wizi, wakiwa waajiriwa wa Barclays Dar es Salaam, wakijua kuwa kuna maingizo ya uongo kwa akaunti 0008001993 kwa ajili ya Kigamboni Oil Limited na kupata dola 700,769 na 299,974.00, walikaa kimya bila kufanya chochote na kusababisha kampuni hiyo kuendelea na wizi wa dola 1,000 mali ya Barclays.

Shitaka la sita ni kwa mtuhumiwa wa kwanza hadi wa tano kuingiza maingizo yasiyo sahihi kwa Ramadhani Hamisi na kukaa kimya na matokeo yake Hamisi aliendelea na wizi huo wa dola 80,500 na shitaka la saba ni kwa mtuhumiwa wa pili, Oktoba 28, mwaka huu akiwa muingiza taarifa kwa udanganyifu, alifanya maingizo ya uongo kwa kutuma dola 299,974.00 wakati si kweli.

Shitaka la nane ni kwa mtuhumiwa wa pili kwa udanganyifu, alituma dola 80,500 kwenye akaunti 0157001698 ya Hamisi wakati ni uongo na shitaka la tisa ni kwa mshitakiwa wa sita kujaribu kuiba Novemba 3, mwaka huu makao makuu ya Benki ya Stanbic bila dai lolote halali, aliwasilisha hundi namba 0000002 na kuiba Sh milioni 60 na dola 40,000 kwa kutoa fedha hizo kutoka Gralic Inter Trader.

Kenyella alidai upelelezi wa kesi hiyo unaendelea kwa sababu washitakiwa wengine hawajakamatwa na pia fedha hazijakamatwa na kuomba kuwasilisha hati ya kiapo kutoka kwa Mkuu wa Upelelezi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, Charles Mkumbo, kuwa washitakiwa wote walikamatwa Barclays usiku na mshitakiwa wa sita, alikamatwa juzi Benki ya Stanbic Kinondoni.

Kenyella alidai washitakiwa wote walikamatwa kutokana na taarifa kutoka kwa viongozi wa benki za Barclays na Stanbic, na kushitakiwa kwa mashitaka hayo. Washitakiwa wote walikana mashitaka hayo na Hakimu Mingi alisema na uamuzi wa dhamana kwa washitakiwa atautoa kesho.

 

[WomanOfSubstance]

BAK
Thanks for the coverage.Inasikitisha kuona kuwa wizi unataka kuwa sehemu ya utamaduni wetu sehemu za kazi.

 

[Dark City]

BAK
Thanks for the coverage.Inasikitisha kuona kuwa wizi unataka kuwa sehemu ya utamaduni wetu sehemu za kazi.

Kasheshe ni pale ambapo WaTz watasuswa na wawekezaji kwamba hawaajiriki kwa sababu si waaminifu. Ikitokea hivyo sijui tutaanza kulalamika au?? Tatizo letu ni tamaa ya utajiri wa haraka, tukitaka kujilinganisha na mafisadi wengine! Shauri yetu, ukimwiga tembo.....!

 

[WomanOfSubstance]

na wameshaanza kuwakataa watz! Halafu tutabaki tunalalamika hatupati ajira. Kwanini uajiri a potential thief kama mwelekeo ndio huo?

 

[Alpha]

What do you expect? They see their leaders stealing millions of dollars and nothing happens to them.

 

[Zero]

No wonder watu wanabadilisha magari kila siku wakati tunajua mishahara yao ni ya kawaida tu na hawana biashara nyingine yeyote ya maana.

 

[Richard]

No wonder watu wanabadilisha magari kila siku wakati tunajua mishahara yao ni ya kawaida tu na hawana biashara nyingine yeyote ya maana.

Siku za mwizi kwa kawaida ni arobaini tu.

Kwa hio tamaa ina mwisho wake na mtu huishia kufa maskini.

 

[Tonga]

Hii inatisha watz, kweli 'mtoto wa nyoka ni nyoka ' naona mafisadi wanazidi kuzaa vifisadi; hawa wote wanaotuhumiwa ni vijana wadogo sana ambao wangeweza kutumia nafasi waliyonayo na kutajirika polepole au hata kuishi maisha ya uhakika tu bila makuu ila ndoto ya utajiri wa haraka imewafikisha hapa walipo. Tunatia aibu kwakweli naona tunaikimbilia NIgeria kwa kashfa, is not a good thing to our reputation and economy as well.

 

[deny_all]

What do you expect? They see their leaders stealing millions of dollars and nothing happens to them.

Umeongea ukweli, kama vijana hawana watu ambao wanaweza kuwaiga kama 'role models' kwenye maisha yao zaidi ya wezi na wafujaji mali za umma wanaotukuzwa tutegemee zaidi ya haya.

Ukiangalia kwenye sekta binafsi kidogo wanakuwa makini na kuchukua hatua kwa wezi wa hela zao kwa sababu zina wenyewe na wana uchungu nazo. Lakini wote tunajua kuwa hela nyingi zaidi (mabilioni kwa mabilioni) zinapotea serikalini ikiwepo serikali kuu, mikoani, wilayani, manispaa n.k....na hakuna hatua zozote madhubuti zinachukuliwa dhidi ya wahusika, ripoti za mkaguzi mkuu wa mahesabu serikalini ni shahidi na zinatuambia hivyo mwaka hadi mwaka.

Kwa sababu ya kutochukua kwetu hatua kwenye tatizo hili kwa wahusika tulikuwa tunapanda mbegu hii ya watu kuwaza wizi na udanganyifu ndio njia rahisi ya mafanikio na hii ni hatari kwa taifa letu changa na kwa vizazi vyetu vijavyo. Nadhani sasa ni zamu yetu sisi wananchi kubadilika na kuwa wakali kwa serikali yetu na kudai iwajibike kwa zaidi kwetu kwa majukumu tunayoikabidhi ikiwemo usimamizi wa hela zetu, sheria na mengineyo.

My two cents.

 

[PauliMasao]

Walifikiri wataambiwa warudishe kama zile za EPA!

 

[ChiefmTz]

Dhana ya kuchangamkia deal pamoja na fikra kuwa hakuna mafanikio bila ya ufisadi ndio inayotafuna uchumi wa nchi yetu kwani imefikia hatua watz wanatafuta kazi sio kwa ajili ya kufanya kazi bali kutafuta CHANEL ya kupata deal.

Karibu makampuni yote yenye transactions kubwa ni WAHANGA wa utamaduni uliojengeka vichwani na mioyoni mwa Watanzania kwa takribani miyongo Mitatu iliyopita.

Tanzania kama nchi pamoja na watu wake wana wajibu wa kujiangalia ili kuweza kujisahihisha.

 

[Congo]

Wajadiliane na Baclays namna ya kuzirudisha. watakorudisha wasamehewe. Wasiorudisha ndio wapelekwe mahakamani.

 

[wajinga]

This is a society full of loose morals and we will have to take a very hard look from the exams.Parents are colluding with their children to cheat exams. Those very children they grow with loose morals and have no integrity. Their parents robes the national wealth and their childrens are watching why shouldnt they think they are intitled to everything thats not theirs????? they might not even call it stealing. They call it taking. Behold thats our money in the bank.

 

[Mtanzania]

Tamaa hizi zitatumaliza. Watu wana risk kazi zao za maana na kuamua kuwa majambazi!

 

[Mama]

Tamaa hizi zitatumaliza. Watu wana risk kazi zao za maana na kuamua kuwa majambazi!

Tena vija umri mdogo kabisa, ni haraka gani ya utajiri hiyo? Maskini sijui nani alitudanganya kuwa lazima tuwe matajiri kwa njia mkato, na sasa tumerithisha watoto wetu, duh!