Prominent blogger and political activist Yericko Nyerere was yesterday arraigned at Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court facing five charges under the Cybercrime law allegedly committed during the General Election campaigns and on the election day.
The prosecution led by Senior State Attorney Wankyo Simon assisted by Paul Kadushi claimed that the accused committed the offences on different dates last month in the commercial capital.
Before Principal Resident Magistrate Cyprian Mkeha, it was alleged that on September 25, this year at an unknown place within Dar es Salaam, the accused knowingly published a post containing false information through facebook, a social media network, which could mislead the public on the 2015 General Election.
The information read “While voting today you should remember the death of Mwangosi, torture done to Ulimboka, Kibanda and our National Service youths. If you remember these you will make the right decision.”
Simon claimed that the accused published the information with intent to mislead the public during the General Election.
On the second count, it was alleged that on September 24, this year, the accused Nyerere knowingly, published a post containing false information on facebook that “From today Tanzania doesn’t need peace, it needs only right,” all with the intent to threaten the public during the election.Nyerere is also alleged to have published information which read as follows: “From today until when Lowassa is sworn-in, this nation doesn’t need peace, it only needs justice, the peace disappeared many days ago, what is remaining is just patience.”
“The right way to rescue this nation is the government to do justice even if it will not please it. This election is a battle and anyone who thinks that there is democracy should go for mental screening. This is a battle between the public and the government, good and evil, food and hunger, rich and poor,” he is alleged to have penned.
Further, he also claimed that: “CCM is not a political party. For now it is a criminal association which is being defended by some security and defence organs.”
“The public lacks peace and happiness the only opportunity for Tanzanians is to cast their votes tomorrow to reject CCM. Tanzanians are aware of their president they are going to vote for tomorrow, any attempt by CCM and its agents to hold back the public interests will affect the patience which Tanzanians are having,” he is claimed to have written.
The prosecution claimed that the accused published the information with intent to threaten or mislead the public during the election.
The prosecution further alleged that on the same date and place the accused published a post containing false information on sabotage plans by President Jakaya Kikwete about a meeting in Ngurdoto, Arusha.
“Kikwete is in a meeting in Ngurdoto, Arusha with all the Regional and District Commissioners in the country and also heads of security and defence forces,” the prosecution alleged he penned.
“The Regional Commissioners are being told that NEC in collaboration with CCM, has already prepared fake votes using a Chinese pen system and they are ordered to ensure that they sabotage Ukawa’s campaigns using security organs. They are also being ordered to arrest cyclists (bodaboda) a week before the election and the RCs are being directed to order the DCs across the country to ensure that they safeguard the interests of CCM on the election day,” it is alleged he wrote.
Further the prosecution alleged that on September 3, this year, the accused published a post containing false information through the social media network saying: “The presence of fraudulent bank accounts owned by Tanzanians at the HSBC Bank, North London Branch. CCM has deposited pound 1.5 million fraudulently in favour of Dr. Wilbroad Peter Slaa through his Fiancée Josephine Mushumbusi being corruption from CCM to win Tanzania General Election 2015.”
The accused did that with intent to mislead the public during the General Election, the prosecution alleged.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, and he is out on bail until December 1, this year.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
No comments :
Post a Comment