Media Wire Express Correspondent
The former mayors of Kinondoni and Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, Boniface Jacob, is expected to appear in court again for a decision regarding the status of his bail.
Jacob, popularly known as Boni Yai, a resident of Mbezi Msakuzi in Dar es Salaam, is a businessman and politician facing charges of publishing false information on social media.He was arraigned at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, September 19, 2024, where he pleaded not guilty to the two charges read against him.
The prosecution informed the court that the investigation into the case was incomplete but submitted two requests. First, they asked the court to order Jacob to provide the passwords to his phones and his X (formerly Twitter) account for investigation purposes.
Additionally, they sought to revoke his bail, claiming it was for his safety, based on Jacob’s statements to the Kinondoni Regional Crime Officer (RCO), Davis Msangi, where he expressed concerns that he would be kidnapped and killed following the information he had published.
These requests were vehemently opposed by Jacob’s defense team, led by lawyer Peter Kibatala, who argued that the claims were unfounded and that the requests had not been submitted according to legal requirements.Therefore, they requested the court to dismiss these requests and instead grant Jacob bail, asserting that bail is a fundamental constitutional right, and issues of safety do not constitute valid grounds for denying bail.
Presiding Magistrate Franco Kiswaga, after listening to the arguments from both sides, adjourned the case until Monday, September 23, 2024, for a ruling on the prosecution’s requests.
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However, on Monday, September 23, 2024, Boni Yai, who is currently held at Segerea Prison, was not brought to court along with other inmates, causing the decision regarding his bail status to be postponed until today, Thursday, September 26, 2024.
Commenting on the adjournment of this decision, the head of the prosecution team, Chief Government Counsel Nassoro Katuga, and the leader of the defense team, Peter Kibatala, stated that Boni Yai was not brought to court due to logistical reasons.
