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Police releases 19 people held in connection to Mohammed Dewji abduction

Wednesday October 17 2018
MO PIC

Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji was kidnapped on October 11, 2018. FILE PHOTO | THE CITIZEN | NMG

By THE CITIZEN

Police have released 19 of 26 people who were being held for grilling in connection to the abduction of Tanzanian tycoon Mohammed Dewji.

The 19, who include Simba Sports Club spokesperson Mr Haji Manara, were released on bail, according to Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa on Tuesday.

Their release coincided with opposition calls for the government to allow an independent investigation in wake of rising wave of similar incidents in the country.

Chadema politician, Mr Godbless Lema, who is also the shadow minister for Home Affairs, said independent investigators would help vindicate the government over speculation it may have been behind such incidents.

“If you look carefully at the statements made by the government and the police in particular,” the Arusha Urban MP said, “you’ll see an utter lack of seriousness on [the government’s] response on the issue at hand.”

Mr Lema, who is also his party’s Central Committee member, said he wanted the government to believe that seeking help from external investigators on such a matter of national security “is not a sign of weakness.”

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Rather, he added, it shows how civil and wise the government is in doing anything possible in its possession to calm down the tension surrounding the critical issue.

But in a quick response, Home Affairs deputy minister Hamad Masauni declared there was no intention within government to allow foreign investigators as the local police were capable of doing the work.

Mo, as he is popularly known, 43, was abducted by unidentified gunmen in the early Thursday last week as he went for a workout at the luxury Colosseum Hotel gym in Oyster Bay, an affluent neighbourhood in northwest Dar es Salaam.

Police are yet to establish those behind Mo’s abduction or their motive.

On Monday, Mo’s family announced a Tsh1 billion ($437,000) reward to anyone who may provide information that would help find him.

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