PCCB GRILLS SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT AMCOS LEADERS

25

AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Lindi Region is investigating to legal procedures and prosecute on economic and money laundering offences some businessmen and Amcos leaders allegedly involved in fraudulent purchases of cashew nuts.

According to a statement issued recently by Lindi Region Chief Bureau Abnery Mganga, such measures were in response to directives given by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.

The move comes after PCCB recovered 73m/ – obtained through fraudulent means from farmers.

In the first instance, he stated that several suspects were interrogated and later confessed to have committed the offences and decided to return all the money amounting to 73,666,484/- which was deposited to a special PCCB account in the region.

“These acts are crimes in accordance with the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act No 11 of 2007 as well as the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2012,”states part of the statement.

He said that on October 27, 2020 when Mr Majaliwa was winding up the general election campaign in Nachingwea District he banned warehouse operators from deducting cashew buyers’ money on the grounds that when the crop was stored it dried and lost weight.

Despite the ban, their investigation revealed that some warehouse operators continued deducting the buyers’ money due to such weight loss, a situation that led some companies to lose goods despite having paid for them.

Mr Mganga explained in the statement that in implementing the directives of the Prime Minister, PCCB in Lindi Region had identified the existence of serious fraud by some companies that had been entrusted with the responsibility of managing warehouses.

On January 29, 2021, the PCCB office in Nachingwea District, Lindi Region, through its undisclosed sources received reports of conspiracy and fraud committed at Pachani Central Warehouse managed by Mafubilo General Supplies Ltd in Nachingwea District.

After some investigations, PCCB found out that the chief executive officer of the company, in collaboration with Mkombozi and Ndomondo Amcos leaders conspired and forged various documents.

According to the statement, the documents are cash produce receipts as well as warehouse receipts to enable them to commit fraud that they had received 35 tonnes of cashew nuts from two farmers.

“Investigations continued and PCCB found that such fraud resulted in some individuals, who were not cashew nut farmers, being paid 73,666,484/- cashew nut fees in their personal accounts illegally,” the statement further reads.

In addition, Mr Mganga explained that investigations revealed that after they were paid, the suspects transferred all the money to the personal account of Mr Juma Bakari Saidi, who was the owner of Mafubilo General Supplies Ltd and the money was withdrawn and then spent illegally.

The PCCB chief also stated that witnesses and suspects interviewed admitted that the cashew nuts mentioned had never been received at the warehouse and even the companies named to load and transport them confessed that they had never shipped the cashew nuts during that period.

Mr Mganga warned leaders of all companies operating warehouses in Lindi Region as well as all Amcos leaders, who were dishonest to immediately stop fraudulent acts, which had been the cause of injustice and deprivation of the rights of vulnerable farmers.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here