Interpol: No arrest yet of Alex Massawe - The Citizen
By Frank Kimboy
The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. Interpol Tanzania has dismissed reports circulating in sections of the social media suggesting that their counterparts in South Africa have arrested a Tanzania fugitive, Mr Alex Massawe.
Mr Massawe, a Dar es Salaam-based businessman, is said to have fled the country to avoid arrest over several criminal offences he is alleged to have committed. He is, for instance, alleged of being connected to a murder case facing another city businessman, Mr Abubakar Marijani, alias Papaa Msofe.
Some subscribers in one of the social media networks yesterday posted a thread which suggests that Interpol in South Africa seized Mr Massawe, who is alleged to have fled the country on a boat, in a bid to evade possible arraignment.
However, when contacted for confirmation, the head of Interpol in Tanzania, Mr Gustav Babile, brushed off the reports.
“We haven’t received any information regarding the said arrest of Mr Alex Massawe; so, as far as I am concerned, the reports are not true,” said Mr Babile in a telephone interview with The Citizen.
Apparently, Mr Babile was also contacted by officers from the criminal investigations office yesterday, who made inquiries on Mr Massawe.
“The rumours have spread fast because people from the DCI Office have also inquired on the same today,” said the Dar es Salaam Interpol chief.
A search by The Citizen showed that the Interpol Tanzania website does not include Mr Massawe in its ‘red notice’ Wanted list. The list carries only a single name – that of a Zanzibari who is being sought over a murder.
Mr Babile did not say whether Interpol was looking for Mr Massawe. Our efforts to get the police to give details on the matter did not bear fruit.
Mr Marijani a.k.a. Papaa Msofe, whose alleged association with Mr Masawe explains the latter’s purported disappearance, has been arraigned over the murder of fellow businessman Onesphory Kituly in November last year.
Papaa Msofe and the deceased were at loggerheads over a parcel of prime land in Mikocheni in the city, a dispute dating back to 2007.
Mr Massawe has also been on suspicion of funding armed robbery gangs in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. He is also suspected of purchasing stolen goods that criminals acquire.
In 2006, the Dar es Salaam Kisutu Resident Magistrate declared Mr Massawe as ‘a very dangerous’ man to the society, charging that he finances and protects armed robbers.
His was among 50 names of ‘dangerous people to the community’ which was submitted to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Saidi Mwema shortly after he took office in 2006. However, the names were soon trimmed to two following further police investigations.
Mr Massawe, who among other businesses, owns hotels in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha, was put under police surveillance for one year.
Under the order, Mr Massawe surrendered his passport and other important documents to the police
The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. Interpol Tanzania has dismissed reports circulating in sections of the social media suggesting that their counterparts in South Africa have arrested a Tanzania fugitive, Mr Alex Massawe.
Mr Massawe, a Dar es Salaam-based businessman, is said to have fled the country to avoid arrest over several criminal offences he is alleged to have committed. He is, for instance, alleged of being connected to a murder case facing another city businessman, Mr Abubakar Marijani, alias Papaa Msofe.
Some subscribers in one of the social media networks yesterday posted a thread which suggests that Interpol in South Africa seized Mr Massawe, who is alleged to have fled the country on a boat, in a bid to evade possible arraignment.
However, when contacted for confirmation, the head of Interpol in Tanzania, Mr Gustav Babile, brushed off the reports.
“We haven’t received any information regarding the said arrest of Mr Alex Massawe; so, as far as I am concerned, the reports are not true,” said Mr Babile in a telephone interview with The Citizen.
Apparently, Mr Babile was also contacted by officers from the criminal investigations office yesterday, who made inquiries on Mr Massawe.
“The rumours have spread fast because people from the DCI Office have also inquired on the same today,” said the Dar es Salaam Interpol chief.
A search by The Citizen showed that the Interpol Tanzania website does not include Mr Massawe in its ‘red notice’ Wanted list. The list carries only a single name – that of a Zanzibari who is being sought over a murder.
Mr Babile did not say whether Interpol was looking for Mr Massawe. Our efforts to get the police to give details on the matter did not bear fruit.
Mr Marijani a.k.a. Papaa Msofe, whose alleged association with Mr Masawe explains the latter’s purported disappearance, has been arraigned over the murder of fellow businessman Onesphory Kituly in November last year.
Papaa Msofe and the deceased were at loggerheads over a parcel of prime land in Mikocheni in the city, a dispute dating back to 2007.
Mr Massawe has also been on suspicion of funding armed robbery gangs in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. He is also suspected of purchasing stolen goods that criminals acquire.
In 2006, the Dar es Salaam Kisutu Resident Magistrate declared Mr Massawe as ‘a very dangerous’ man to the society, charging that he finances and protects armed robbers.
His was among 50 names of ‘dangerous people to the community’ which was submitted to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Saidi Mwema shortly after he took office in 2006. However, the names were soon trimmed to two following further police investigations.
Mr Massawe, who among other businesses, owns hotels in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha, was put under police surveillance for one year.
Under the order, Mr Massawe surrendered his passport and other important documents to the police
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