Man accused of defrauding MPs comes from a well-to-do family - report

Wazir Chacha arrives at the Muthaiga Police Station escorted by police officers after he was arrested in Tanzania on 2nd MARCH 2018. [DAVID GICHURU, STANDARD]

The pre-bail report on a man accused of defrauding MPs shows he comes from a well-to-do family.

Probation officer Jenevive Akinyi told City Court Chief Magistrate Roseline Oganyo the report showed that Benson Masubo alias Waziri Chacha comes from a family of good standing.

“His family is well known in their rural area and his father is a former mayor of Kehancha in Kuria. He is a businessman and the family is very supportive”, Ms Akinyi said.

According to medical reports, Chacha, 24, is epileptic.

His family said they believed he suffered from a mental disorder and explained that when he was in school, he would turn violent, destroy things, and sometimes walk naked in the village.

Oganyo ordered Chacha’s pre-bail report last week.

“The bail determination by Chacha will be deferred until a pre-bail report from his family members, mostly his parents, and victims of the fraud is filed,” the magistrate directed.

She ordered the Probation Department to dispatch a team of officers to Chacha’s rural home in Masaba village in Kuria, Migori County, to interview his parents, relatives, the local administration, and the victims of the fraud and file a report before she can decide on the bail plea filed by defence lawyers. 

In the report, Jakoyo Midiwo, one of the witnesses, has registered his reservations about the accused being released on bond.

He said he believed Chacha was connected to certain influential people and being granted bail would allow him to try to pervert justice.