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- Feb 11, 2007
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-Fresh interest in ex-BoT governor as EPA probe deadline approaches
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam
A TEAM of local investigators is currently in the United States attempting to trace the whereabouts of former Bank of Tanzania governor Daudi Ballali, as part of ongoing investigations into the theft of over 133bn/- from the central bank's external payment arrears (EPA) account, it has been revealed.
Well-placed sources say at least seven detectives are combing Washington DC, the US capital, and Boston in a bid to locate the ex-BoT governor a central figure in the EPA investigation who has surprisingly not been officially questioned by authorities thus far.
But with less than eight weeks to go before the expiry of the six-month deadline given by President Jakaya Kikwete to the EPA investigations team led by Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika, the focus now seems to be firmly shifting onto Ballali.
''There is a team of Tanzanian investigators in the US right now, apparently trying to locate Ballali. It isn't clear if their orders are to arrest him or just question him,'' said a source familiar with the investigation.
''The clock is certainly ticking for the EPA probe team to wrap up its work, and there have already been suggestions that the AG (Mwanyika) will ask the president for an extension of about two months to finish the job,'' the source added.
Due to the secretive nature of the EPA investigation, it could not be immediately established when the detectives are expected to return from the US.
It is understood that a number of law enforcement agencies and government departments are involved in the investigation, including the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), the Tanzania Police Force Criminal investigations Department (CID), and the Attorney General's Chambers.
A senior government official confirmed to THISDAY that the US government has offered ''full cooperation with Tanzanian authorities in tracking down Ballali.''
The US government revoked Ballali's visa shortly after he was sacked from his job as BoT governor by President Kikwete back in January, as a direct result of the EPA scandal discovery.
The latest reports of a team of local sleuths presently in the US, come amidst much public speculation on the current state of Ballali's health.
There are growing suggestions that the condition of the ex-governor, who has reportedly been undergoing medical treatment in the US since last year, is becoming quite critical.
The Mwanyika team, which says it has so far recovered about half of the 133bn/- embezzled from the EPA account, has also come under strong criticism for failing to make any arrests so far.
Among other things, the high-level EPA probe team also incorporating Inspector General of Police Saidi Mwema and PCCB Director-General Dr Edward Hoseah was ordered by President Kikwete to institute criminal charges against proven culprits in the scandal.
Ballali is believed to have been one of the key architects in the scandal. Apart from authorising the dubious payments as central bank governor, he is also understood to have gone out of his way to get rid of the bank's former external auditors Delloite & Touche of South Africa, after they uncovered suspicious payments from the EPA account in a 2005/06 audit.
Former Finance Minister Zakia Meghji also told THISDAY that Ballali had deliberately misled her about the nature of one of the payments, over $30.8m (approx. 40bn/-) paid to a virtually-unknown company called Kagoda Agriculture Limited.
Ballali is said to have lied to Ms Meghji to the effect that the payment to Kagoda was aimed at financing a secret national ''security'' project.
However, it has since emerged that the Kagoda funds were pocketed by various high-profile individuals, as part of the massive fraud.
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam
A TEAM of local investigators is currently in the United States attempting to trace the whereabouts of former Bank of Tanzania governor Daudi Ballali, as part of ongoing investigations into the theft of over 133bn/- from the central bank's external payment arrears (EPA) account, it has been revealed.
Well-placed sources say at least seven detectives are combing Washington DC, the US capital, and Boston in a bid to locate the ex-BoT governor a central figure in the EPA investigation who has surprisingly not been officially questioned by authorities thus far.
But with less than eight weeks to go before the expiry of the six-month deadline given by President Jakaya Kikwete to the EPA investigations team led by Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika, the focus now seems to be firmly shifting onto Ballali.
''There is a team of Tanzanian investigators in the US right now, apparently trying to locate Ballali. It isn't clear if their orders are to arrest him or just question him,'' said a source familiar with the investigation.
''The clock is certainly ticking for the EPA probe team to wrap up its work, and there have already been suggestions that the AG (Mwanyika) will ask the president for an extension of about two months to finish the job,'' the source added.
Due to the secretive nature of the EPA investigation, it could not be immediately established when the detectives are expected to return from the US.
It is understood that a number of law enforcement agencies and government departments are involved in the investigation, including the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), the Tanzania Police Force Criminal investigations Department (CID), and the Attorney General's Chambers.
A senior government official confirmed to THISDAY that the US government has offered ''full cooperation with Tanzanian authorities in tracking down Ballali.''
The US government revoked Ballali's visa shortly after he was sacked from his job as BoT governor by President Kikwete back in January, as a direct result of the EPA scandal discovery.
The latest reports of a team of local sleuths presently in the US, come amidst much public speculation on the current state of Ballali's health.
There are growing suggestions that the condition of the ex-governor, who has reportedly been undergoing medical treatment in the US since last year, is becoming quite critical.
The Mwanyika team, which says it has so far recovered about half of the 133bn/- embezzled from the EPA account, has also come under strong criticism for failing to make any arrests so far.
Among other things, the high-level EPA probe team also incorporating Inspector General of Police Saidi Mwema and PCCB Director-General Dr Edward Hoseah was ordered by President Kikwete to institute criminal charges against proven culprits in the scandal.
Ballali is believed to have been one of the key architects in the scandal. Apart from authorising the dubious payments as central bank governor, he is also understood to have gone out of his way to get rid of the bank's former external auditors Delloite & Touche of South Africa, after they uncovered suspicious payments from the EPA account in a 2005/06 audit.
Former Finance Minister Zakia Meghji also told THISDAY that Ballali had deliberately misled her about the nature of one of the payments, over $30.8m (approx. 40bn/-) paid to a virtually-unknown company called Kagoda Agriculture Limited.
Ballali is said to have lied to Ms Meghji to the effect that the payment to Kagoda was aimed at financing a secret national ''security'' project.
However, it has since emerged that the Kagoda funds were pocketed by various high-profile individuals, as part of the massive fraud.
