Joseph Isangura
The fate of bail for former Ubungo Mayor, Boniface Jacob, popularly known as Boni Yai, is expected to be determined today, Monday, September 23, 2024, when the court delivers its ruling on the government’s application to deny his bail.
Boni Yai, a resident of Mbezi Msakuzi, Dar es Salaam, a businessman and politician who once served as mayor of Ubungo Municipality, is facing charges of publishing false information on social media.
He appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, September 19, 2024, where he was read two charges, which he denied.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Nassoro Katuga, informed the court that investigations into the case were still ongoing.
However, the prosecution presented two requests. The first was for the court to issue an order allowing the accused’s electronic devices, including his phone and his account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), to be accessed for investigative purposes.
In the second request, the prosecution asked the court to deny him bail, citing concerns for his safety.
Attorney Katuga claimed that the accused had informed Kinondoni Regional Crime Officer (RCO) Davis Msangi that after publishing the allegedly false information, he feared being kidnapped and killed.
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However, both of these requests were opposed by the defense team, led by lawyer Peter Kibatala, who argued that they were procedurally improper and that the affidavit submitted in support of the requests contained legal defects.
In addition to opposing the government’s requests, the defense team asked the court to grant the accused bail, arguing that it was his constitutional right.
