Tear gas used to disperse rioting Lema backers

POLICE here were forced to use tear gas to disperse irate crowd of people who thronged the Regional Magistrate Court’s grounds when the appeal to have Arusha Urban Member of Parliament (MP), Godbless Lema, released on bail was heard.

 

It was when hundreds of Lema’s supporters who had apparently been mobilised to cause mayhem at the court’s premises to pressurise the jury into releasing the MP on bail, started getting rowdy when the police realised that something needed to be done to quell the chaos. 

Worse still, Lema, the Arusha Urban legislator on CHADEMA ticket, who is facing seditious charges, lost the appeal. He was whisked back into custody after High Court Judge Monesta Opiyo stated that the final ruling on the politician’s appeal will be heard at the court tomorrow.

State attorneys Hashim Ngole and Matenus Marandu stated that the defendant’s appeal breached Section 292 (1a) of the Criminal Procedure Act – and therefore, Lema’s advocates Sheck Mfinanga and Peter Kibatala needed to adjust their request.

The respondent’s advocates, however, stuck to their guns that whatever they had filed was in line with legal requirements for the requested bail. Advocate Kibatala, assisted by a team of other lawyers, opposed the injunction by the state, asking the court to review the application.

The outspoken legislator, who has been in remand since November 2, is facing seditious charges, including insulting the head of state and inciting mutiny.