Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam has directed the Egyptian, Mohamed Shalaby (52), to expedite the negotiations with his relatives on whether he should change his plea to the charges of organising and smuggling 95 immigrants he is facing.
Senior Resident Magistrate in Charge Godfrey Isaya gave such directives yesterday when the trial came for preliminary hearing after the prosecution had completed the investigations into the matter.
Earlier, prosecuting attorney from Immigration Department Geoffrey Ngwijo told the court that as they were set to conduct the preliminary hearing session, the accused person informed them his wishes of changing the plea of not guilty and needed time to negotiate with his relatives.
In response, Advocate Magusu Mugoka, for the accused person, said his client was still negotiating with his relatives on a number of issues and had not reached any conclusion.
He, therefore, requested for more time to allow the negotiations to proceed and subsequently come to an end.
The magistrate granted the request and adjourned the trial to September 1, 2021, hoping that the accused person will come with a position that has been reached.
In his earlier position, the Egyptian pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was currently contemplating changing such a plea.
Shalaby was charged with two others, Ally Rajabu (40), who is a Tanzanian, and Chebet Benson (33), a Ugandan, who have all pleaded guilty to the charges and sentenced accordingly.
It is alleged by the prosecution that on August 4, 2021 at Avone Department in Ilala district in the city, being a citizen of Egypt and Mauritius, was found to have smuggling 90 Tanzanians and five Burundians to depart from the United Republic of Tanzania to Mauritius and Canada, while it was illegal.
The court was told that on the same date and place within the city and region of Dar es Salaam, Rajabu being a citizen of Tanzania, was found to have organizing the smuggling of the said 95 people, who are 90 Tanzanians to and five Burundians to depart from Tanzania to Mauritius and Canada.
It was alleged that on the same date at Sali International Hospital located at Masaki in Kinondoni District in Dar es Salaam, being a citizen of Uganda was found to have engaged in occupation as an information technology, without having a valid work permit.
On the first day of his arraignment, the Egyptian addressed the court to express his concern concerning the matter, alleging that he came to Tanzania to conduct some businesses under the invitation of a woman he identified in one name of Rahma.
According to him, upon reaching he inquired about working permits he was told to pay 2,500 US dollars, of which he paid.
He said that such a woman had no office, but he was arrested while at the house of Rahma when he was still processing some working permits.
The magistrate, however, told the accused person that the arguments he presented were prematurely raised because the time will come for him to give his defence in respect to the charges preferred against him.
