The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).
A director and chief executive officer of Six Telecoms Company Ltd, Hafidh Shamte and five others yesterday appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court charged with fraudulent traffic and occasioning loss of more than USD 3.8m equivalent to Sh8bn to the government.
The prosecution led by Senior State Attorney Theophil Mutakyawa, assisted by State Attorney Jackline Nyantori and a principal State Attorney from TCRA, Johannes Kalungura, informed the court that the accused committed the offence on diverse dates between May 20 2015 and early this month within the city of Dar es Salaam.
Apart from Shamte, other accused are the chief finance officer Raphael Onyango, accountant Said Ally, marketing officer Noel Chacha, network administrator Tinisha Max and and head of data business for the company, Vishno Konreddy.
They are charged with offences contrary to regulations 7(1) and 25 of the Electronic and Postal Communications (Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring System) Regulations, Government Notice No.208 0f 2013 read together with section 153 of the Electronic and Postal Communication Act, Act No. 3 of 2010.
Before the principal resident magistrate, Respicious Mwijage it was alleged that on one material day the accused in order to obtain financial or personal gain, charged International telecommunication traffic at a rate below the minimum rate of USD 25 Cents per minute and failed to pay the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority, revenue amounting to USD 3,836,861.99/-
On the second count it was alleged that on the same date and place the accused charged International telecommunication traffic at a rate below the minimum rate of USD 25 Cents per minute and failed to pay TCRA revenue generated from the minimum rate of international incoming call telecommunications traffic, thereby caused pecuniary loss of USD 3,836,861,99 to the TCRA.
The accused were not allowed to enter anything before the court because the matter they are charged with is normally heard by the High court or when the Director of Public Prosecutions issues a certificate for the court to conduct the case.
Magistrate Mwijage adjourned the case until January 29 as investigations were still incomplete.
Speaking outside the court, TCRA lawyer Kalungura said the board of directors of Six Telecoms Company has to paySh8bn within seven days or else the law will take its course.
On Thursday, the communications industry regulator suspended all services provided the company, declaring t have occasioned a loss of $7.7m (about 15bn/-) to the government after inspection by TCRA of company logs in Dar es Salaam.
The company is accused of charging lower tariffs on international calls than those indicated by the industry watchdog. By charging the lower tariffs of US 16 cents as opposed to US 25 cents, the government has been denied its requisite share of revenues, according to TCRA officials.
Because of that customers of Six Telecoms will remain without services until further notice.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN