Monday, March 02, 2009

Skandali ya 'Radar' Bongo


Haya, nangojea kuona kama watu wataburuzwa mahakamani kama hao kwenye skandali zingine!

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Kutoka IPPMEDIA.Com

PCCB traces foreign links to radar scam

By Lydia Shekighenda

The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) is now contacting various sources outside the country in a new buildup of `convincing evidence` in the on-going investigation into the controversial purchase of the civilian and military air traffic control (radar) system, `The Guardian` has established.

The anti-corruption watchdog confirmed last week to have received the radar case file from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eliezer Feleshi, for further investigation.

PCCB Public Relations Officer Doreen Kapwani told `The Guardian` that the file has been returned from the DPP with instructions to carry out further investigations of the radar scandal.

``It is true, we (PCCB) have received the radar case file back from the DPP and we are now proceeding with the investigations outside the country,`` she said.

Over a week ago, a section of the local media speculated that the DPP had returned the radar case file to the PCCB because of insufficient evidence for the prosecution of the suspects implicated in the transaction of the military radar bought in 2002 at 52bn/-.

The DPP has instructed the PCCB to carry out further investigation on the circumstances leading to the transaction of the radar.

However, Kapwani would not state when the investigation will be completed and the file returned to the DPP.

``I am not in a position to state how long the investigation will take and when the file will be taken back to the DPP,`` she said.

She urged people to be patient while the corruption watch-dog was carrying out the investigation, saying that it would update the public on the progress once the process was completed.

Kapwani however, called upon the people and other stakeholders to co-operate in giving out information and evidence against the suspects whenever they will be required to do so.

The Tanzania government bought the radar from British Aerospace at a price of 52bn/- in 2002, but it was later established that the price was too high.

It was learnt that part of a `commission` fee of 16bn/- equivalent to 30 per cent of the total radar purchase price, paid to Envers Trading may have been used to bribe top government officials.

The PCCB concluded its investigation on the radar transaction scandal and handed the file to DPP in July last year, seeking formal consent to proceed with prosecution.

The key individuals being investigated by the UK`s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) include ex-attorney general Andrew Chenge, former Bank of Tanzania governor Dr Idris Rashid, and well-known local businesspersons Tanil Somaia and Shailesh Vithlani.

Both local and foreign investigations into the allegations forced Chenge to resign from a cabinet post last year.

However, ever since, there has been no reported progress of investigations on other individuals linked to the scandal.

SOURCE: Guardian

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