http://www.dailynews-tsn.com/page.php?id=5695 Accused deny using church to hide firearms DAILY NEWS Reporter Daily News Monday,February 12, 2007 THE accused charged with armed robbery of over 168m/- at the National Bank of Commence (NBC) Limited, Ubungo branch in Dar es Salaam, have denied using an Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Arusha to hide firearms, allegedly used for different armed robberies. According to the prosecution, one of the accused, Rashid Lemrisi, is alleged to have been found by a team of police with nine guns and 122 rounds of ammunition hidden in his saloon car packed at the church's compound at Sanawari area. The accused, however, told Principal Resident Magistrate Pellagia Khaday at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam last Friday during preliminary hearing of the case, that he neither possessed nor showed the police the alleged firearms. Reading memorandum of facts of the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Charles Kenyella, alleged that on May 26, last year, the police arrested one of the accused, Philipo Mushi, at Kariakoo area in connection with the robbery. Upon interrogation by a team of police led by Inspector Senga, Mushi allegedly confessed and named his coaccused, Martin Mndasha and Jackson Moshi, who were also arrested on the same day. According to the prosecutor, while at the Central Police Station, Mushi, Mndasha and Lucas Nyamaila also mentioned other accused, who reside in Arusha, that were involved in the robbery incidence. The police arrested Mashaka Mahenge in Moshi. ACP Kenyella told the court that Mahenge disclosed the whereabouts of the firearms used in different armed robberies and mentioned accused Lembrise, who was arrested by another police team, led by ASP Nyanda, as the one who had been keeping them. Upon interrogation, Lembrise allegedly admitted possessing the firearms. The prosecutor told the court that the accused led the police to the church and showed them his Corolla car number T 615 AKS where he had hidden the firearms. He alleged that the accused opened the car on presence of two pastors of the church — Orcher Mgonja and Godfrey Mollel. The police recovered two SMGs, one shotgun and six pistols. They also seized four magazines of SMG gun and five of pistol. The police also found 60 rounds of ammunition for SMG and 62 of pistol. Hearing of the case takes off on February 26. The prosecution is expecting to call 29 witnesses and would tender 18 exhibits to prove the charges. It is alleged that the accused committed the offence on February 2 at the bank in Kinondoni District. They allegedly stole 123m/-, 16,128 US dollars and 50 euros, all valued at over 142m/-, property of the bank. On the same day at the bank, the accused also allegedly robbed of four customers, including Andrew Athanas, Hezron Aloyce, Eustus Butunge and Maulid Mpangala a total of 26m/-. Immediately before and after the time of such stealing, its alleged, the accused threatened bank officials and customers by firing bullets on the air in order to obtain the said money easily.