`Ring leaders` of inmates boycott identified

Police in Dar es Salaam say they have identified the four ring leaders of an inmates strike, who allegedly spearheaded the Tuesday court boycott by scores of remandees from Keko Prison, who refused to alight from a truck.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Alfred Tibaigana, said the four would appear in court once investigations had been completed.

He said two of the suspects were facing manslaughter charges while the other pair was charged with armed robbery.

Tibaigana mentioned those facing manslaughter charges as Anthony Angelus (50) and Ramadan Rajabu Mbano (30), while those who are charged with armed robbery are James Juma (28) and Omary Rashidi (21).

``The police spoke to the Head of Prison immediately after receiving reports that the remandees had refused to alight from the truck,`` said Tibaigana.

He said they interrogated the remandees who allegedly had no intention to strike, but were ordered to do so by the four suspects.

``I ordered the four ringleaders to alight from the truck and told the rest to proceed to court for their hearings,`` he said.

The police commander directed the two suspects facing armed robbery charges to be sent to court in a different car while those facing manslaughter charges went in another.

``We are conducting an investigation to establish whether all the 65 remandees refused to alight from the truck or if they only did so after being threatened,`` said Tibaigana.