Ponda case to be reviewed

The Magistrate said the accused should be remanded until November 21 when the case will come for another mention.

Morogoro. 

The Morogoro Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday failed to conduct the case that is facing the Secretary of the Council of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, after the High Court ordered fresh reviews.

Sheikh Ponda who is facing three charges was brought to court under police and prison officers’ tight security.

Unlike before, this time around, Sheikh Ponda’s case was mentioned before a new magistrate, Ms Mary Moyo, after the former magistrate who was hearing it, Mr Richard Kabate, was transferred to Dodoma Region.

Elaborating on the procedures, Ms Moyo said the case file has been submitted to the High Court in Dar es Salaam since October 15, this year for a fresh review.

She said the High Court has the mandate to call for any file and that the case would not be conducted until the file is brought back.

She said that for the time being, the case would be only mentioned and adjourned pending other directives from the court. She added that the decision to bring or not to bring the accused to the court was in the hands of the Prisons administration since the bail was denied.

The Magistrate said the accused should be remanded until November 21 when the case will come for another mention.

Moreover, none of Sheikh Ponda’s defence lawyers attended the session. Sheikh Ponda also told the court that the lawyers did not inform him on the matter. His lawyers include Bathoromeo Tharimo, Ignas Punge and Juma Nassor.

The prosecution side told the court that the investigation on the matter was ready and that it was ready to bring witnesses in the court.

At the court grounds, the number of Sheikh Ponda’s followers was not big compared to previous days. Police and other security officers were seem relaxed upon the arrival of Sheikh Ponda at the court.

The cleric is facing three charges, one involves incitement, defying the court’s order and persuading people to commit an offence.