Dar es Salaam – A Tanzanian court on Friday ordered the release of opposition leader Freeman Mbowe and three other defendants after the prosecution dropped terrorism charges against them.
“Because the prosecution has submitted an intention to drop the case and the defence side has accepted it, the case is now removed from the court and I order the suspects to be released unconditionally,” said judge Joachim Tiganga.
“They should be released from jail immediately”.
ALSO READ | Tanzania opposition leader to stand trial for terrorism
Mbowe, chairman of the Chadema party, was arrested in July along with a number of other senior party officials just hours before they were to hold a public forum to demand constitutional reforms in the East African country.
#Tanzania: The leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Freeman Mbowe, has a case to answer on charges of plotting acts of terrorism against government officials, a court said on Friday, prolonging a trial that some see as political. pic.twitter.com/1hhigSSIjV
— Goodluck 全能神的僕人 (@RealHauleGluck) February 19, 2022
He and three others were charged with terrorism financing and conspiracy.
His supporters had branded the case as a politically motivated move to crush dissent, and Mbowe has accused police of torturing him during his nearly seven months in custody.
“We have no intention to continue with the case,” state prosecutor Robert Kidando told the court.
#Tanzania‘s opposition leader Freeman Mbowe has been released after the state filed a motion to dismiss his terrorism case.
Last month President Suluhu met exiled politician Tundu Lissu, raising hope that strained relations between the opposition and government will reduce. https://t.co/0DrJnd86LX
— Beverly Ochieng (@BeverlyOchieng) March 4, 2022
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter / @SangaClement
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