By Karama Kenyunko
6th January 2015
Chinese nationals, Hsu Chin Tai and Zhao Haquing
The
High Court in Dar es Salaam has ordered the Ministry of Livestock
Development and Fishers to release the ship ‘Tawariq 1’ and 296.3 tons
of fish worth more than 2bn/- properties of two Chinese nationals, Hsu
Chin Tai and Zhao Haquing.
The Chinese nationals were charged for carrying out fishing activities in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in Tanzania.
A
letter signed by the High Court Registrar on December 17 last year,
called on the government to refer to its promises via the affidavit
issued by Godfrey Nanyaro and the Permanent Secretary of the said
ministry Charles Nyamlundana.
The
oath on the letter said that if the accused will not be convicted in
court the government will pay the cost of the fish which is
2,074,249,000/- within 30 days from the acquittal of them after being
found not guilty.
The
letter also showed the copy of the order that directed the fish to be
sold. The order was issued by Judge Radhia Sheikh on December 11, 2009.
Earlier
September 1 last year, the defence advocates submitted the letter of
the said evidence before the registrar of the said court.
In
the letter the advocates requested the court to give back the accused
evidence submitted by the High Court in the case number 38 of 2009
before Judge Sheikh during the case.
In
2009 the two accused and other 36, were charged before the court with
the offence of carrying out fishing activities in the exclusive economic
zone of Tanzania and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
But
they however appealed to the court of Appeal which reversed the
decision of High court and set free the accused. Immediately thereafter
they were arrested and charged before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s
Court on August 14, last year and the DPP withdrew the charges.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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