TWO CHARGED FOR VOICES OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL [VoIP] FRAUD IN TANZANIA

http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/44288-two-indians-in-court-over-fraud-occasioning-4bn-loss 

 

 

Published on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 01:34

Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA 

 

TWO suspects, who are Indian nationals, the General Manager of Zanzibar Beach Resort, Jamal Ashar (59) (left) and Chief Accountant of the Hotel, Kalray Patel appears before Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday facing six charges under Economic Organised Crimes Act, including illegal importation and operation of Electronic Communication Equipment without a licence, causing a loss amounting to 4,357,080,000 /- to the United Republic of Tanzania and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). The suspects were remanded in custody until 12th of May, this year, when the case will come for another mention. (Photo by Semu Mwakyanjala, TCRA)

TWO Indian nationals, Kalrav Patel and Kamal Ashar, have been charged with several counts relating to fraudulent use of communication network and occasioning loss of over 4bn/- to government and telecommunications industry.

They were arraigned before the Kisutu Court in Dar es Salaam and were not allowed to enter plea to the charges before Principal Resident Magistrate Cyprian Mkeha.

The two were remanded in custody until May 12, 2015 when the case will be mentioned as investigations into the matter were still going on, according to the prosecution led by Principal State Attorney Tumanini Kweka, who was assisted by Joannes Karungura from Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

Other counts include operating electronic communications without a licence, use of unapproved electronic equipments, importation and installation of electronic communication equipment without a licence and use of unapproved electronic equipments.

The prosecution alleged that at unknown dates this year in the city, knowingly Patel and Ashar imported into Tanzania some electronic communication equipments, which are Voices over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateways and Cisco Router without having a licence issued by TCRA.

According to the prosecutor, the accused persons, at unknown date within Zanzibar Municipality, installed and maintained the said equipment without a licence and that between February 25 and April 18, 2015 they allegedly used the equipment which was not approved by the Authority.

The prosecution alleged further that within the same period, the accused unlawfully operated an international gateway to receive and transmit telecommunication traffic without a licence issued by the Authority.

It is alleged further that between February 25 and April 18, 2015, in Zanzibar Municipality, unlawfully and with intent to avoid payments, all accused transmitted international telecommunications traffic without using a gateway licensed by TCRA.

The prosecution further alleged that within the same period, being unlicensed operators, Patel and Ashar terminated international telecommunications traffic by using unlicensed GSM VoIP gateways, thereby causing a pecuniary loss of  Tshs.4,357,080,000/- to the government and TCRA.