Court to Rule on JATU CEO Peter Gasaya’s Case on March 14

Decision to Determine Case Dismissal or Continuation

Dar es Salaam, March 11, 2025 – The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court is set to deliver a crucial ruling on March 14, 2025, regarding the case of Peter Gasaya, the Chief Executive Officer of JATU PLC. The court will decide whether to dismiss the charges against him or allow the case to proceed.

Senior Resident Magistrate Geofrey Mhini announced the forthcoming verdict today, following the presentation of arguments by both the prosecution and defense.

Charges Against Gasaya

Gasaya, 33, faces two serious charges:

1. Fraudulently obtaining TZS 5.1 billion
2. Money laundering of the said amount

The prosecution alleges that between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, Gasaya, acting as JATU PLC’s CEO, misrepresented that the funds collected from JATU Saccos members would be invested in agricultural projects. However, according to the charges, he knowingly engaged in fraudulent financial activities.

Defense Calls for Case Dismissal

During today’s hearing, Gasaya’s defense team, led by lawyer Nafikile Mwamboma, urged the court to drop all charges on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to complete investigations since his initial indictment in 2022.

Mwamboma emphasized that according to Section 91(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act, a suspect cannot be rearrested for the same offense after being previously released unless substantial new evidence emerges. The lawyer also referenced a directive issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on September 20, 2022, which requires investigations to be completed before formal charges are filed.

Prosecution Seeks Case Continuation

Senior State Attorney Job Mrema, assisted by Roida Mwakamele, countered the defense’s request, arguing that the Kisutu Court lacks jurisdiction to dismiss economic crimes cases without the explicit consent of the DPP.

Mrema maintained that the prosecution still holds the authority to conduct further investigations and that the court should reject the defense’s motion.

Key Legal Dispute

The case hinges on the legal interpretation of procedural delays versus the prosecution’s authority to refile charges. The defense argues that continued delays violate legal provisions, while the prosecution insists that the gravity of the charges warrants further proceedings.

Gasaya’s legal team has pointed out that the investigation should have been concluded within 90 days, and the failure to do so raises serious procedural concerns. They argue that if the prosecution has sufficient evidence, the case should proceed without further delays.

Awaiting the Court’s Verdict

With both sides having presented their arguments, the court will now deliver its final ruling on March 14, 2025. The decision will determine whether Gasaya walks free or faces trial for one of the most high-profile financial crime cases in recent years.