TZ journalist Erick Kabendera finally freed after pleading guilty
Detained Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera appears at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on January 2, 2020. PHOTO | STRINGER | AFP
What you need to know:
- Of the three charges, Kabendera was cleared of that of leading an organised crime gang and left with the money laundering and tax evasion charges.
- Earlier on Monday, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution earlier accepted Kabendera's plea bargain application, paving the way for the Kisutu Magistrate’s Court to begin hearing his case.
Dar es Salaam,
Journalist Erick Kabendera finally walked to freedom on Monday, almost six months after being arrested on charges of money laundering, tax evasion and leading an organised crime gang.
Of the three charges, Kabendera was cleared of that of leading an organised crime gang and left with the money laundering and tax evasion charges.
Kabendera pleaded guilty to the charge of money laundering and was fined TZS100 million, which he paid, thereby securing his freedom.
The court also ordered him to pay TZS250,000 as a fine for evading taxes, another charge to which he pleaded guilty.
He was further ordered to pay another TZS172 million as compensation, which he will clear in the next six months alongside the TZS250,000.
Earlier on Monday, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution earlier accepted Kabendera's plea bargain application, paving the way for the Kisutu Magistrate’s Court to begin hearing his case.
The court previously lacked jurisdiction to hear such cases.
State attorney Faraja Nchimbi informed resident magistrate Janet Mtega of the DPP's acceptance of the plea bargain when the case was mentioned on Monday.
