EX-TPA BOSS, THREE OTHERS ARRAIGNED OVER 8BN/- BRIBE

Four people, including estranged Tanzania Ports Authority’s (TPA) Director General Ephraim Mgawe were arraigned yesterday, charged with an 8bn/- corrupt transaction.

Besides Mgawe, before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court were former TPA Director of Engineering Bakari Kilo (59),TPA Procurement Unit Manager Theophil Kimaro (54) and 60-year old DB Shapriya Managing Director Kishor Shapriya.

Before Principal Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba, all accused denied the charges relating to a tender deal for the construction of an oil pipeline.

They were granted bail subject to each securing two reliable sureties, with every surety required to sign a 500m/- bond.

Magistrate Simba also ordered all accused to surrender before the court their passports or any other travel documents before adjourning the case for another mention to November 7. Investigations into the matter, according to the prosecution, have not been completed.

A prosecutor from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Mr Emanuel Jacob, told the court that the accused committed the offences on diverse dates at unknown places in the city between 2009 and 2012.

He alleged that during the period, Mgawe, Kilo and Kimaro jointly and corruptly solicited through an agent, DB Shapriya and Company Limited, four million US dollars (over 8bn/-) from Leighton Offshore Pte Limited.

Assisted by Senior State Attorney Mutalemwa Kishenyi, the PCCB prosecutor further claimed that the amount was an inducement to help Leighton Offshore Pte Limited to win the tender for the replacement of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) and Pipeline at RAS Mjimwema to TPA.

The prosecution informed the court that within the period and places, Shapriya, as the gent of Leighton Offshore Pte Limited, corruptly offered the four million US dollars as bribe to Mgawe, Kilo and Kimaro.

Daily News