Prosecutors in Tanzania today charged freelance journalist Erick Kabendera with money laundering, tax evasion, and assisting an organized crime racket, according to a copy of the charge sheet.
When he was detained on July 29, the Dar es Salaam police chief told a press conference that police were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship status.
“It seems that for the past week, authorities have been searching for a way to justify their detention of this critical freelance journalist. First, they claimed Erick Kabendera’s citizenship was in question, today they have leveled drastically different charges, which call into question their motive for holding him,” said CPJ Sub-Saharan Africa Representative Muthoki Mumo.
“Prosecutors should immediately drop the charges against Kabendera and Tanzania should end its practice of retaliating against critical voices” Mumo added.
The charge sheet alleged that Kabendera committed the offences between January 2015 and July 2019.
Under Tanzanian law people accused of money laundering do not qualify for bail.
Kabendera could remain in detention for the duration of his trial, Jones Sendodo, one of the lawyers representing the journalist, told CPJ.
If convicted of assisting a criminal racket, Kabendera could be jailed for up to15 years.
Since his arrest, authorities have searched the journalist’s home at least twice, confiscated his passport and other documents, and questioned his mother.
Aside from being interrogated about his citizenship, Kabendera was also grilled on accusations of sedition.
Kabendera will be detained at Segerea prison in Dar es Salaam until August 19, when the next hearing in his case is scheduled, his lawyer, Sendodo, said.
WN/as/APA