Investigation into the involvement of Kagoda Agricultural Company in Bank of Tanzania's External Payment Arrears (EPA) account has got stuck because the individuals behind the firm have died.
Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) director general Dr Edward Hoseah claimed here on Thursday when talking to editors who attended a two-day interactive training on corruption issues.Dr. Hosea said that PCCB efforts proved futile because the two deceased directors were the only footprints of Kagoda company.
“Our investigations into Kagoda has been frustrated because, how can we pursue deceased persons?” Hoseah wondered.He further said that the PCCB was still ready to make further probes into the company if anybody with fresh evidence or any relevant information with regard to the company could submit it to the corruption watchdog.He said PCCB was currently struggling to get fresh details from anybody regarding the Kagoda firm so they could proceed with their investigations.Kagoda Agriculture Ltd was the single biggest beneficiary of funds looted from the EPA account after it received dubious payments amounting to more than 40bn/-.Dr. Hosea, meanwhile, said that former cabinet minister Andrew Chenge was being investigated for possessing property yet to be justified.The PCCB boss, however, insisted that there was not even an iota of truth over allegations that the Bariadi West MP was implicated in the radar case.“Chenge is not related to the radar scam. The allegation has no iota of truth. But we are investigating him on unexplained possession of property,” he confirmed.He said investigations by the anti-graft bureau and UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO), did not establish involvement of the politician, who resigned as a minister in 2008 over a host of corruption allegations, including the radar scandal.
The former attorney general is among Tanzanians named in the scam under which additional money was paid in the USD 40 million contract for the purchase of the radar from the British defence company, BAE.“The transaction happened in the UK, not in Tanzania, and involved British nationals who shared amongst themselves the loot,” he said, noting that 31 per cent of the additional funds was factored in the contract for the purchase of the radar.
Originally reported by Lusekelo Philemon for The Guardian.
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