POLICE in Dar es Salaam have busted a network of conmen and arrested four people who have reportedly been posing as officials from government organs terrorising and swindling millions from their victims. The regional Special Zone Police Commander, Suleiman Kova, said in the city yesterday that the culprits are suspected to have amassed more than 4bn/- within a period of six months. He named them as Deogratius Mgassa (33), a Tegeta resident, Mathew Emmanuel (42), Mhando Hussein (33), and Godfrey Mathias both from Mwananyamala.
He said that the suspects were targeting well-to-do people by masquerading as officials from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) or national security agents and demanded the victims to explain how they acquired their wealth.
They used to threaten and demand money from business people, bank officials and people from government institutions pretending to be from the police force, or other government organs, said Mr Kova. He revealed that some of the victims had been conned between 10m/- and 800m/- each and that the police were looking for more culprits and investigating whether the money had been stashed away somewhere.
He said that a total of 40 people had so far reported to the police that they had been conned and urged other victims to come forward and report their cases to assist in the investigation. In another development, police in Tanzania are collaborating with those of Interpol to hunt for the armed robbers involved in the raid of the National Microfinance Bank (NMB) Temeke branch where two people were killed.
Mr Kova said that the Interpol was involved because it is believed that foreigners were linked to the robbery. He said that after the investigation is completed, the foreigners will be charged in their home countries. A total of 61.3m/- was stolen during the robbery at NMB Temeke branch at the beginning of this month where hand grenades were used.
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