The Economic and Organised Crime Control Act

THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
CHAPTER 200
THE ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIME CONTROL ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
REVISED EDITION 2019
This Edition of the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act, Chapter
200, has been revised up to and including 30th November, 2019 and is
printed under the authority of section 4 of the Laws Revision Act, Chapter 4.
Dodoma, ADELARDUS L. KILANGI

30th November, 2019 Attorney General
PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, DAR ES SALAAM - TANZANIA

The Economic and Organised Crime Control Act [CAP. 200 R.E. 2019]
2
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CHAPTER 200
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[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section Title
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
PART II
THE CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC CRIMES
DIVISION OF THE HIGH COURT
Establishment and composition of the Court
3. Establishment, composition and jurisdiction of Court.

4. Repealed.
5. Repealed.
6. Repealed.
7. Repealed.
8. Remuneration and expenses.
9. Seals of Court.
10. Administration of Court.
Jurisdiction and Functions
11. Powers and duties of Court.

12. Power to refer matters to other courts.
13. Place of sittings.
14. Disclosure of interest of member.
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15. Privilege of proceedings.
16. Decisions Repealed.
17. Reports from Court.
18. Contempt of Court.
19. Power of Court in relation to contempt.
PART III
INVESTIGATION OF ECONOMIC CRIMES
Investigation Process
20. Application of Criminal Procedure Act.
21. Personnel for investigation.
22. Search for and seizure of property.
23. Disposal and forfeiture of property.
24. Disappearance of suspect.
The Decision to Prosecute

25. D.P.P. to be informed of occurrences and to give directions.
26. Consent of D.P.P. for prosecutions.
27. Repealed.
PART IV
PROCEDURE PRIOR TO AND DURING TRIAL BEFORE THE
COURT
Preliminary Procedure
28. Application of Criminal Procedure Act.
29. Procedure on arrest.
30. Committal for trial by Court.
31. Information.
32. Address of the accused to be recorded.
33. Admission by accused.
34. Denial by accused.
35. Preliminary hearing.
36. Bail.
37. Change of circumstances after grant of bail.
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38. Arrest of persons contravening bail provisions.
Procedure during Trial
39. Expedition of actions.
40. Dismissal of charge.
41. Procedure on close of case for prosecution.
42. Procedure on defence of alibi.
43. Judgment and sentence.
44. Alternative verdicts.
45. Orders in respect of property.
Provisions regarding Evidence
46. Application of Evidence Act.
47. Manner of obtaining and sources of evidence.
48. Evidence on oath or affirmation.
49. Evidence in presence of accused and examination.
50. Evidence in absence of accused.
51. Interpretation of evidence.
52. Refractory witnesses.
53. Protection of witnesses.
54. Immunity of witnesses.
55. Depositions to preserve testimony.
56. Litigation concerning sources of evidence.
PART V
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
57. Offences under this Act.
58. Application of Penal Code.
59. Prohibition of transfer of advantage or property involved in
economic offence.
59A. Prohibition of insolvency.
60. Punishment for proved crimes.
61. Orders for compensation, restitution, etc.
62. Right of appeal.
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PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
63. Regulations.
63A. Power to make rules.
64. Omitted.
65. Repeal.
66. Savings.
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SCHEDULES
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CHAPTER 200
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An Act to make better provision for the control and eradication of certain
crime and culpable non-criminal misconduct through the prescription
of modified investigation and trial procedures, and new penal
prohibitions, the provision of enhanced sanctions and new remedies,
and for related matters.
[25th September, 1984]
[s. 1 (2)]
Acts Nos.
13 of 1984
12 of 1987
13 of 1988
10 of 1989
27 of 1991
3 of 1992
9 of 1995
17 of 1996
31 of 1997
2 of 2007
1 of 2008
3 of 2009
2 of 2010
3 of 2011
6 of 2012
3 of 2016
G.N. No.
658 of 1998
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Short title 1.This Act may be cited as the Economic and

Organised Crime Control Act.
Interpretation 2.-(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise

Acts Nos.
2 of 2007 requires-
s.30 “aircraft” means any machine that can derive support in the
3 of 2016 atmosphere from the reaction of the air other than the
s.6
reaction of the air against the earth’s surface;
Cap. 80 “aircraft facilities” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
5
any subsidiary legislation made under the Civil
Aviation Act;
“appropriate judicial authority” means the Chief Justice and
each judge of the High Court authorised in writing by
the Chief Justice to exercise the functions of an
appropriate judicial authority under this Act;
“business” includes a business not carried on for profit;
“carrier” means any person engaged in the transportation of
passenger or property by land, air or sea, as a
common contract or private carrier of freight,
forwarder, and officers, agents or employees of such
carrier;
“combination” means persons who collaborate in carrying
out and furthering the activities or purposes of a
criminal racket even though such persons may not
know each other’s identity or the membership
combination changes from time to time or one or
more members may stand in a wholesaler-retailer or
other arm’s length relationship with others as to
activities or dealings between or among themselves
in an illicit operation;
“confidence game” means any swindling operation whereby
advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the
victim in the swindler;
Cap. 329 “corruption offence” means an offence under the Prevention
and Combating of Corruption Act specified in the
First Schedule;
“Court” means the Corruption and Economic Crimes
Division of the High Court established under section
3;
“criminal racket” means any combination of persons or
enterprises engaging, or having the purpose of
engaging, whether once, occasionally or on a
continuing basis, in conduct which amounts to an
offence under this Act;
“dealer” means any person engaged in the business of
distributing any goods for consumption or use by
other at wholesale or retail, or the treatment or use of
such goods for the purposes of manufacturing other
6
goods for distribution by others;
“decision” includes a judgment, finding, acquittal,

conviction, sentence or ruling;
Cap. 6
“document” has the meaning ascribed to it under the
Evidence Act;
“economic offence” means any offence triable under this
Act;
“enterprise” includes any individual, partnership,
corporation, association or other legal entity, and any
union or group of individuals associated in fact
although not a legal entity, carrying on any business
whether or not for profit;
“explosive materials” includes explosives, blasting agents,
detonators any material used in the manufacture of
explosives;
“firearm” means-
(a) any weapon which is capable of expelling, or is
designed or may readily be convened to expel, a
projectile by the action of an explosive;
(b) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(c) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer;
(d) any destructive device,
and includes an antique or domestically manufactured
firearm;
“foreign commerce” means commerce between the United
Republic, or any citizen of or any firm or body
corporate established in the United Republic, and any
foreign country, firm, person or body of persons;
“game” means a sport;
“importer” means any person engaged in the business of
importing or bringing any article or thing of
commercial value into the United Republic;
“internal trade” means commerce amongst the citizens,
firms and other persons or bodies of persons, whether
or not corporate, within the United Republic;
“Judge” means a Judge of the High Court;
“local government authority” means a city, municipality,
town, district or village council, and includes a
7
township authority and any committee or other body
established by and for the purposes of a local
government authority;
“magistrate” means a magistrate performing or authorised to
perform any function for the purposes of this Act;
“manufacturer” means any person engaged in the business of
manufacturing any article or thing of commercial
value;
“member” means a member of the Court, and includes the
Judge presiding over the proceedings of the Court;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for legal affairs;
“motor vehicle” and “motor vehicle facilities” means every
description of carriage or other contrivance propelled
or drawn by mechanical power and used for
commercial purposes on the highways in the
transportation of passengers or passengers and
property, whether publicly or privately owned;
“official act” means any decision or action on any question,
matter, cause, suit, proceeding or controversy, which
may at any time be pending, or which may by law be
brought before any public official, in his official
capacity;
“organised crime” means any offence or non-criminal
culpable conduct which is committed in combination
or from whose nature, a presumption may be raised
that its commission is evidence of the existence of a
criminal racket in respect of acts connected with,
related to or capable of producing the offence in
question;
“person” includes an individual, partnership, committee,
association, corporation, and any other organisation
or group of persons whether or not a body corporate;
“prosecuting officer” means a person so designated under
section 27;
“public official” means any person holding any office,
whether appointive or elective, in the Government of
the United Republic or any agency of the United
Republic;
“racket” means any combination of persons or enterprises;
8
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the High Court;
“specified authority” means any department of the
Government of the United Republic, a co-operative
society, a local government authority or a parastatal
organisation;
“sport” includes archery, athletics, bao, baseball, basketball,
boxing, cards, chess, cricket, darts, dog-racing,
draughts, football, hockey, horseracing, handball,
netball, polo, squash, swimming, tennis, volleyball
and any other game, play or sport, by whatever name
called, involving bodily exercise or mental exertion,
whether outdoor or indoor and whether played by
amateurs or professionals;
“sports contest” means a sports competition of any kind;
“wildlife” and “wildlife resources” include resources which
comprise wild mammals, wild birds, fish, and all
other categories of wild creatures of any kind, and all
types of aquatic and land vegetation upon which such
wildlife resources are dependent.
(2) All offences created by or punishable under the
First Schedule to this Act shall be referred to as economic
offences.
(3) Except where the nature or circumstances of an
offence indicate otherwise, where two or more persons are
proved to have been jointly involved in the commission of an
economic offence, or where it appears to the Court that the
accused could not have committed the offence without the
connivance or collaboration of a person or persons not
known to the Court, the commission of the offence shall be
deemed to have been organised, and the offence to be an
organised crime for the purposes of sentence.
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PART II
THE CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC CRIMES DIVISION OF
THE HIGH COURT
Establishment and composition of the Court
Establishment, 3.-(1) There is established the Corruption and

composition
and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court with the
jurisdiction of Registry and sub-registries as may be determined by the
Court Chief Justice, in which proceedings concerning corruption
Act No.
3 of 2016 and economic cases under this Act may be instituted.
s.8 (2) The Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of
the High Court shall consist of a Judge or such number of
Judges of the High Court as may be determined by the Chief
Justice.
(3) The Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and
determine cases involving-
(a) corruption and economic offences specified in
paragraphs 3 to 21 and paragraphs 27, 29 and 38
of the First Schedule whose value is not less than
one billion shillings, save for paragraph 14;
(b) economic offences specified under paragraphs 22,
23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36,
37 and 39 of the Schedule regardless of their
value; and
(c) such other offences as may be referred to, or
instituted in the Court in terms of the provisions
of this Act.
Repealed 4. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8A.
10
Remuneration 8.-(1) Every member of the Court and every person,
and expenses
other than counsel for the defence, discharging duties
connected with proceedings before the Court shall be paid
such remuneration or allowances as the Minister may from
time to time, by notice published in the Gazette, determine.
(2) The remuneration or allowances to be paid under
subsection (1) shall be of such amount as may be sufficient
to cover the cost of board, lodging, transport and travel likely
to be incurred.
Seals of Court 9. The Court shall use distinctive stamps and seals of
such nature and pattern as the Chief Justice may direct.
Administration 10.-(1) The Chief Justice shall make such manpower
of Court
arrangements as he may consider appropriate for ensuring
the smooth co-ordination of the affairs of the Court.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the Chief Justice
may select public officers employed in the Judiciary
Department and assign to them such duties as he may
determine for the purposes of ensuring the proper and
efficient functioning of the Court.
(3) The Chief Justice may, from time to time, issue
such directions as he may determine for the guidance of all
officers, or a category of them, in the performance of duties
in relation to matters arising under or connected with this
Act and such directions shall be under the hand of the Chief
Justice.
Jurisdiction and Functions
Powers and 11.-(1) The Court shall have power to inquire into
duties of Court
Act No. economic offences alleged to have been committed, and to
12 of 1987 make such decisions and orders for the purposes of this Act
s.5 as it may in each case find fit and just.
(2) Allegations of commission of any economic
offence may be brought to the attention of the Court through-
(a) the reference by any court subordinate to the
High Court, with copies of records being sent to
the Director of Public Prosecutions, of any case
involving economic offence or offences
previously instituted before that court;
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(b) the institution of proceedings before the Court by
Cap.20 the Director of Public Prosecutions or by his
representative duly appointed in accordance with
section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
(3) Where the Court finds any accused person guilty
of the economic offence charged it may pass such sentence
on him as it deems fit and just in the circumstances of the
case, subject to this Act, and explain to him his right of
appeal.
(4) Where the Court finds any accused person not
guilty of the offence charged or of any alternative economic
offence disclosed by the evidence adduced it shall forthwith
acquit and order the release of that person.
Power to refer 12.-(1) Where the Court decides that an alleged
matters to
other Courts economic offence is in fact not an economic offence which it
Act No. has jurisdiction to try, it shall order that proceedings in
12 of 1987 respect of that offence be instituted in such court as it may
s.6
deem proper to order, but shall make no order in relation to
the accused person save for bail if an application is made in
that behalf.
(2) Where the Court decides that it has no jurisdiction
and makes an order under subsection (1), the accused shall
be deemed to have been discharged for the purposes of
proceedings before the Court, but the discharge shall not
operate to preclude the arrest of the person for the purposes
of proceedings in relation to him before an appropriate
competent court in respect of the same facts on which he was
brought before the Court.
(3) The Director of Public Prosecutions or any State
Attorney duly authorised by him, may, in each case in which
he deems it necessary or appropriate in the public interest, by
certificate under his hand, order that any case involving an
offence triable by the Court under this Act be tried by such
court subordinate to the High Court as he may specify in the
certificate.
(4) The Director of Public Prosecutions or any State
Attorney duly authorised by him, may, in each case in which
12
he deems it necessary or appropriate in the public interest, by
certificate under his hand order that any case instituted or to
be instituted before a court subordinate to the High Court
and which involves a non-economic offence or both an
economic offence and a non-economic offence, be instituted
in the Court.
[ss. (3A)]
(5) Where a certificate is issued under subsection (3),
it shall be lodged in the court concerned, and shall constitute
full authority for, and confer jurisdiction upon, the court in
which it is lodged to try the case in question.
[ss. (4)]
(6) Where a person tried by a court subordinate to the
High Court pursuant to the preceding provisions of this
section is found guilty by that court, the court shall impose
on that person the sentence provided for by this Act.
[ss. (5)]
Place of 13. The proceedings of the Court shall be conducted

sittings
in any building or room in which the sittings of the High
Court are ordinarily held or, subject to the directions of the
appropriate judicial authority, in such other place which is
different from, but is fit for use as, a court room.
Disclosure of 14.-(1) No member shall sit on the Court for the

interest of
member hearing and determination of any matter in which he has any
interest other than that of seeing to the eradication of
economic and organised crime through lawful means.
(2) A member who has an interest in the matter shall
inform the presiding Judge of his interest before taking the
oath for the purposes of the case, and the Judge shall cause a
summons to be sent out for another person to replace that
member.
Privilege of 15.-(1) Save as is expressly provided by this Act, no

proceedings
act or thing done or omitted by a member shall, if done or
omitted bona fide in the exercise of his judicial functions
under this Act, render such member criminally liable for
such act or omission.
13
(2) Any advocate or other person appearing before
the Court on behalf of a party shall have the same protection
and immunity as an advocate has in appearing for a party in
ordinary proceedings before the High Court.
(3) Subject to this Act, a person summoned to attend
or appearing before the Court as a witness shall have the
same protection, and shall, in addition to the penalties
provided by this Act, be subject to the same liabilities, in any
civil or criminal proceedings, as a witness in ordinary
proceedings in the High Court.
Repealed 16. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8B.

Reports from 17.-(1) The Registrar and each Deputy Registrar shall
Court
Act No. at intervals of six months, prepare and submit to the Minister
3 of 2016 a report specifying-
s.8C
(a) the total number of economic offences brought
before the Court for trial;
(b) the number of each type of economic offences
inquired into;
(c) the number of persons tried for commission of
each type of economic offence;
(d) the orders made by the Court in the trial of each
economic offence;
(e) any recommendations for the control or
eradication of any economic or other crime or
crimes; and
(f) any other matter which the Minister may require
the Registrar to report upon.
(2) The Court may, in any appropriate case, after the

trial, submit a special report to the Minister-
(a) concerning non-criminal or professional
misconduct, abuse or misuse of office involving
economic or organised criminal activity by any
public official as the basis for a recommendation
of his removal or disciplinary action being taken
against him;
14
(b) regarding the state and conditions of economic
and organised criminal activity within the area of
the jurisdiction of the Court,
and the Minister shall act upon the report in accordance with
relevant law.
Contempt of 18.-(1) Any person who-

Court
Act No. (a) willfully disobeys any lawful order, process or
12 of 1987
s.8 requirement issued by the Court;
(b) publishes any proceedings or report of the Court
or any part of it contrary to an order of the Court
prohibiting publication;
(c) discloses or publishes a report of the evidence
taken or deliberations of the Court held in camera
or directed to be withheld from publication;
(d) within the premises in which any proceeding of
the Court is being held or taken, or within the
precincts of those premises, shows disrespect, in
speech or manner, to or with reference to that
proceeding;
(e) within the premises in which any proceeding of
the Court is being held or taken, and in the face of
the Court, conducts himself, in speech or manner,
so as to be likely to threaten any witness or to
disrupt the proceedings of the Court;
(f) with a view to preventing the giving of evidence
or production of any thing before the Court, does
any act intended or likely to intimidate a person
summoned from giving evidence or producing the
thing;
(g) with a view to punish or victimise a person, does
any act to him after that person has given
evidence or produced anything before the Court,
which injures or is likely to injure that person or
his property;
(h) publishes anything in any manner which
scandalizes or is intended or likely to scandalize
the Court;
15
(i) willfully publishes or does any thing which is
intended or tends to prejudice the fair trial of any
person before the Court,
commits an offence of contempt of the Court and shall be
liable on conviction to imprisonment for five months or to a
fine not exceeding three thousand shillings.
(2) Save as is provided in section 19, all offences of
contempt against the Court shall be triable by the district
court.
Power of 19.-(1) When any offence under section 18 is

Court in
relation to committed in the face of the Court, the Court may cause the
contempt offender to be detained in custody, and at any time before the
rising of the Court on the same day may take cognisance of
the offence and sentence the offender to a fine of five
hundred shillings or, in default of payment, to imprisonment
for one month.
(2) Without prejudice to section 18, the Court shall
have power to punish by fine or imprisonment such
contempt of its authority as-
(a) misbehaviour of any kind by any person in its
face or so near to it as to obstruct the
administration of justice;
(b) misbehaviour of any of the officers of the Court
in their official transactions;
(c) disobedience or resistance to its lawful authority.
PART III
INVESTIGATION OF ECONOMIC CRIMES
Investigation Process
Application of 20.-(1) Except as is provided in this Part, and in any

Criminal
Procedure Act other written law creating an economic offence in respect of
which the Court has jurisdiction by virtue of this Act, the
Cap.20 investigation of all economic offences triable by the Court
shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the
Criminal Procedure Act, subject to the following provisions
of this section.
16
(2) Where in relation to any offence which is an
economic offence under this Act, the law creating the
offence expressly provides for specific acts to be done in the
process of investigation, those acts shall be done in
Cap.20
accordance with that law to the extent only to which that law
derogates from the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act.
(3) Where after the Court commences the hearing of
any case it appears that some further investigations ought to
be done in order for the Court to reach a just decision, the
Court may, on its own instance or that of the prosecuting
officer, adjourn the proceedings and order that investigations
or further investigations be carried out into any matter or
aspect of it and a report on the investigations be furnished to
the Court within such time as it may specify.
(4) Where at the end of the trial the Court convicts
the accused and decides that a custodial sentence be
imposed, the period of adjournment for further investigations
shall, if the accused person be in custody, be taken into
account for the purposes of determining the length of the
custodial sentence to be imposed.
Personnel for 21.-(1) The investigation of all economic offences
investigation
reported to the police shall be conducted by police officers,
with the assistance of such public officials or category of
public officials as may be designated by the Director of
Public Prosecutions after consultation with the Director of
Criminal Investigation and by order published in the Gazette.
(2) Where in accordance with any other written law
the investigation of any economic offence or category of
economic offences, is ordinarily conducted by public
officials other than police officers, then for the purposes of
this Act the term “police officer” shall include any public
officials in the discharge of functions in pursuance of this
Act.
Search for and 22.-(1) Where a police officer is satisfied that there is
seizure of
property reasonable ground for suspecting that there is in any
Act No. building, vessel, carriage, box, receptacle or place-
12 of 1987
s.9 (a) anything with respect to which any economic
offence has been committed;
17
(b) anything in respect of which there are reasonable

grounds to believe that it will afford evidence as
to the commission of any economic offence;
(c) anything in respect of which there are reasonable
grounds to believe that it is intended to be used
for the purposes of committing any offence,
and that any delay would result in the removal or destruction
of that thing or danger to life, or property he may search, or
issue a written authority to any police officer under him to
search the building, vessel, carriage, box, receptacle or place.
(2) Whenever any search is made or any such written
authority is issued the police officer concerned shall, as soon
as practicable, report the issue of the authority, the grounds
on which it is issued and the results of any search made
under it, to a district magistrate within whose area of
jurisdiction the search is to be made or was made.
(3) Where anything is seized after a search conducted
pursuant to this section, the police officer seizing it, shall-
(a) forthwith or as soon as it is practicable evaluate
or cause the property to be evaluated so as to
ascertain its value;
(b) issue an official receipt evidencing such seizure
and on which the value of the property as
ascertained and bearing in addition to his
signature, the signature of the owner of the
premises searched and that of at least one
independent person who witnessed the search.
(4) Where at any stage of the investigations it appears
that anything seized is not related to any economic or other
offence in respect of which any person is or is to be charged,
the police officer in charge of the case shall forthwith cause
the thing to be restored to its owner and shall in no case
detain it longer than is necessary.
(5) Any person who being empowered by law to
order, authorise or conduct the search of a building, vessel,
carriage, box, receptacle or place, exercises such power
Cap.16 without having a reasonable ground commits offence of
abuse of office in terms of section 96 of the Penal Code.
18
(6) Where in the course of a search conducted under
this section any premises or part of such premises are put
under the custody of the police, then at least two locks or
padlocks shall be fixed to the external doors of such
premises, and the keys for one lock or padlock shall be kept
by the owner or occupier of the premises or his agent who
shall be specified for the purpose.
Disposal and 23.-(1) Where before the institution or determination

forfeiture of
property of proceedings before the Court it appears to the Inspector-
Acts Nos. General of Police or a person authorised by him in writing,
12 of 1987 or to the Court, that any property seized under this Act or put
s.10
6 of 2012 in evidence in proceedings before the Court is subject to
s.27 speedy decay or that for any other reasonable cause it is
necessary that it be sooner disposed of, the Inspector-
General of Police or the Court, as the case may be, may
cause or order that, subject to subsection (8), that property be
destroyed, disposed of or dealt with in such manner as
Inspector-General of Police or the Court may specify.
(2) Where, before the institution or determination of
proceedings, any property is destroyed, disposed of or dealt
with in any other manner, other than the manner referred to
in section 24(4), in pursuance of subsection (1), a certificate
signed by the Inspector-General of Police or any person
authorised by him in writing shall in the absence of proof to
the contrary be conclusive evidence of the reasons, the
manner and the circumstances in and the value for, which the
property was disposed of or dealt with, and shall be
considered to be the rightful value of the property for the
purposes of this Act.
(3) Where a person is convicted of an economic
offence and the Court is satisfied that any property which
was in his possession or under his control at the time of his
apprehension-
(a) was used for the purposes of committing or
facilitating the commission of the offence;
(b) was intended by him to be used for that purpose;
or
19
(c) was otherwise involved in the commission of the
offence; and
(d) was so used or involved in the commission of the
offence with the knowledge or consent of its
owner,
the Court shall make an appropriate order under subsection
(1).
(4) Where the Court is satisfied that any property
which was in the possession of a person charged with but
acquitted of an economic offence, at the time of his
apprehension-
(a) was used for the purposes of committing or
facilitating the commission of the offence; or
(b) was otherwise involved in the commission of the
offence,
whether or not it was so used or involved in the commission
of the offence with the knowledge or consent of the owner,
the Court shall, subject to subsection (5) make an order in
respect of the property under subsection (3).
(5) Where the person charged with but acquitted of

an economic offence as referred to under subsection (4) is
not the owner of the property, no order shall be issued in
respect of the property unless the owner, if he is not charged,
is given an opportunity to show cause why an order by the
court in respect of the property should not be issued, and if
he is not before the court and his whereabouts cannot
immediately be ascertained, the court may order the
Inspector General to issue a notice in terms of subsection (2)
of section 24 and the provisions of subsections (3), (4), (5)
and (6) of that section shall apply as if that owner had
absconded.
(6) Facilitating the commission of an offence shall be

taken, for the purposes of this section, to include the taking
of any steps after it has been committed for the purpose of
disposing of any property to which it relates or of avoiding
apprehension or detection.
20
(7) An order under subsection (3) shall operate to
deprive the offender of his rights, if any, in the property to
which it relates, and the property shall, if not already in their
possession, be taken into the possession of the police.
(8) Where the Court makes an order under subsection
(3) in respect of any property, the property may be kept or
sold, and the same or the proceeds of its sale shall be paid
into and form part of the Consolidated Fund.
(9) Where before or after the determination of
proceedings before the Court any property seized or put in
evidence is sold or disposed of in any other manner, except
where the property is sold or disposed of in any other
manner in a shop or through any other public marketing
utility or organ, no public official having any duty to
perform in connection with the sale of any property under
this Act shall directly or indirectly purchase or bid for the
property.
(10) No property disposed of or in respect of which
an order is made by the Court under subsection (3) shall be
sold by public auction.
(11) For the purpose of this section:
“owner” includes a person who has interest in that property
and includes a third party;
“property” includes the property originally in the possession
or under the control of the accused person or any
property into or for which that original property is
converted or exchanged, or anything acquired by
such conversion or exchange, whether before or after
the accused was apprehended.
Disappearance 24.-(1) Where the Inspector-General of Police is

of suspect
Act No. satisfied that any person under arrest or liable to be
12 of 1987 investigated, searched or arrested in connection with any
s.11 reasonable suspicion of the commission of an economic
offence or who is on bail during trial or pending appeal for
an economic offence has absconded to any place outside the
United Republic or, within the United Republic, concealed
himself so that he may not be searched, arrested or otherwise
investigated as to the alleged commission of the economic
21
offence in question, the Inspector-General of Police may
cause investigation measures to be taken in relation to the
premises and the property previously in the possession,
occupation or under the control of the suspect but abandoned
by reason of his abscondence.
(2) Where, upon the completion of measures taken in
pursuance of subsection (1), the commission of an economic
offence is revealed for which the suspect would have been
prosecuted before the Court but for his abscondence, the
Inspector-General of Police shall, by publication in the
Gazette, give notice to the general public of not less than
twenty-one clear days, that he intends to submit the property
before the Court for it to make orders in relation to the
property or other goods involved.
(3) Upon the expiration of the period of the notice

under subsection (2), the Inspector-General of Police shall
prepare and lodge with the Court a certificate stating-
(a) the name of the absconding suspect;

(b) the address of his deserted residence or the
premises involved;
(c) the details of the property abandoned involving or
in respect of which an economic offence is
alleged to have been committed; and
(d) a sketch of the evidence envisaged to be relied
upon by the prosecution where the suspect is
found and charged before the Court.
(4) Where upon receipt of certificate lodged with it in

pursuance of subsection (3) and after considering any
representations made after the notice was given, the Court is
satisfied that the evidence envisaged to be relied upon as
revealed to the Court would have been sufficient to disclose
a criminal offence connected with the absconded suspect, it
shall proceed to make orders such as may be made under
section 23(3) in respect of the property or part of the
property or goods left by the absconded suspect.
22
(5) Where an absconded suspect subsequently returns
to the United Republic or reveals his whereabouts within the
United Republic, he may be arrested and charged with the
economic offence with which he would have been charged
had he not previously absconded.
(6) Notwithstanding any written law for the time
being in force in the United Republic and whether or not the
absconded suspect subsequently reappears in the United
Republic, no action, claim or demand of any kind shall be
instituted in any Court against any person in relation to any
property of goods forfeited or disposed of by an order of the
Court in pursuance of the provisions of this section.
The Decision to Prosecute
DPP to be 25.-(1) In this Part, the term “Director of Public

informed of
occurrences Prosecutions” includes any public official or officials
and to give specified by the Director of Public Prosecutions by notice
directions published in the Gazette to whom he has delegated any of his
functions for the purposes of this Part of this Act.
(2) Whenever-
(a) a police officer in charge of the conduct of
criminal investigations in a region; or
(b) any person in charge of a department of
Government or other public authority empowered
by any written law to conduct investigations into
any offence or category of offences triable under
this Act,
is informed of the occurrence of an economic offence in the
region or any other area within which he or his department
or public authority has jurisdiction, he shall forthwith
communicate to the Director of Public Prosecutions, in
addition to any other person whom he is required by law to
communicate, any intelligence affecting or relating to the
occurrence and to investigations connected with any
economic offence arising from it.
(3) The Director of Public Prosecutions may
whenever it is necessary in his opinion for a successful
completion of investigations in any case the occurrence of
which has been previously communicated to him, give such
23
directions and advice on the matter as he may deem
appropriate or proper in the circumstances.
Consent of 26.-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, no

DPP for
prosecutions trial in respect of an economic offence may be commenced
under this Act save with the consent of the Director of Public
Prosecutions.
(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall
establish and maintain a system whereby the process of
seeking and obtaining of his consent for prosecutions may be
expedited and may, for that purpose, by notice published in
the Gazette, specify economic offences the prosecutions of
which shall require the consent of the Director of Public
Prosecutions in person and those the power of consenting to
the prosecution of which may be exercised by such officer or
officers subordinate to him as he may specify acting in
accordance with his general or special instructions.
(3) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall have
and may exercise in relation to prosecutions under this Act
Cap. 20 the same power which is conferred on him in respect of
public and private prosecutions by the Criminal Procedure
Act.
Repealed 27. Repealed by Act No. 1 of 2008 s. 37.
PART IV
PROCEDURE PRIOR TO AND DURING TRIAL BEFORE THE
COURT
Preliminary Procedure
Application of 28. Except as is provided in this Part to the contrary,

Criminal
Procedure Act the procedure for arraignment and for the hearing and
Cap.20 determination of cases under this Act shall be in accordance
with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Procedure on 29.-(1) After a person is arrested, or upon the

arrest
Acts Nos. completion of investigations and the arrest of any person or
12 of 1987 persons, in respect of the commission of an economic
24
s.12 offence, the person arrested shall as soon as practicable, and
3 of 2011
s.30 in any case within not more than forty-eight hours after his
3 of 2016 arrest, be taken before the District Court and the Resident
s.9 Magistrate Court within whose local limits the arrest was
Cap.4
s.8 made, together with the charge upon which it is proposed to
prosecute him, for him to be dealt with according to law,
subject to this Act.
(2) Whenever a person is brought before a District
Court or Resident magistrate Court pursuant to subsection
(1), the magistrate concerned shall read over and explain to
the accused person the charge or charges set out in the
charge sheet in respect of which it is proposed to prosecute
the accused, but the accused person shall not be required to
plead or make any reply to the charge.
(3) After having read and explained to the accused
the charge or charges the magistrate shall address to him the
following words or words to the like effect:
“This is not your trial. If it is so decided, you will be tried
later in the Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the
High Court, and the evidence against you will then be
adduced. You will then be able to make your defence and
call witnesses on your behalf”.
(4) After the accused has been addressed as required
by subsection (3) the magistrate shall, before ordering that he
be held in remand prison where bail is not petitioned for or is
not granted, explain to the accused person his right if he
wishes, to petition for bail and for the purposes of this
section the power to hear bail applications and grant bail-
(a) between the arrest and the committal of the
accused for trial by the Court, is hereby vested in
the district court and the court of a resident
magistrate if the value of any property involved
in the offence charged is less than ten million
shillings;
(b) after committal of the accused for trial but before
commencement of the trial before the court, is
hereby vested in the High Court;
(c) after the trial has commenced before the Court, is
hereby vested in the Court;
25
(d) in all cases where the value of any property
involved in the offence charged is ten million
shillings or more at any stage before
commencement of the trial before the Court is
hereby vested in the High Court.
(5) After a person is committed to remand prison by a
District court and the Resident Magistrate Court or after the
investigations have been completed but before the suspect is
arrested, the police officer, or other public official in charge
of the relevant criminal investigations under this Act, shall
forthwith cause the statements in quintuplicate of persons
intended to be called as witnesses at the trial to be properly
typed out, conveniently compiled and sent, along with the
police case file, to the Director of Public Prosecutions or any
other public official designated by him in that behalf.
(6) Where the Director of Public Prosecutions or that
other public official, after studying the police case file and
the statements of the intended witnesses, is of the view that
the evidence available is insufficient to warrant mounting a
prosecution, or it is otherwise inadvisable to prosecute, he
shall immediately enter nolle prosequi; unless he has reason
to believe that further investigations can change the position,
in which case he shall cause further investigations to be
carried out.
(7) Where the Director of Public Prosecutions or that
other public official, after studying the police case file and
the statements of the intended witnesses, decides that the
evidence available, or the case as such, warrants putting the
suspect on trial, he shall draw up, or caused to be drawn up,
an information in accordance with law, and when signed by
him, submit it, together with three copies each of the
statements of witnesses sent to him under subsection (5), in
the registry of the Court.
(8) After an information is filed in the Court, the
Registrar shall endorse on or annex to it and to every copy of
information, notice of trial, and cause a copy each to be
delivered to the district court in which the accused was first
presented, as well as to the Director of Public Prosecutions
or other officer filing the information.
26
Committal for 30.-(1) Upon receipt of the copy of the information

trial by Court
and the notice, the district court shall summon the accused
person from remand prison or, if not yet arrested order his
arrest and appearance before it, deliver to him, or to his
counsel a copy of the information and notice of trial
delivered to it under section 29(8), and commit him for trial
by the Court; and the committal order shall be sufficient
authority for the person in charge of the remand prison
concerned to remove the accused person from prison on the
specified date and to facilitate his appearance before the
Court.
(2) The Registrar of the High Court shall be
responsible for summoning all witnesses for the prosecution
as well as those intended to be called by the defence.
Information 31.-(1) Every information shall contain such

Act No.
4 of 1991 particulars as are necessary to give reasonable information as
Sch. to the nature of the offence or offences including a statement
of the law and the section, or other division of it, under
which the accused person is charged.
(2) Every information shall be brought in the name of
the Republic.
(3) An information may contain more than one
offence if the offences charged are founded on the same facts
or form part of a series of offences of the same or similar
character, but where more than one offence is contained in
the same information it shall be separately stated.
(4) The following persons may be joined in one
information and may be tried together, namely-
(a) persons accused of the same offence committed
in the course of the same transaction;
(b) persons accused of aiding or of an attempt to
commit the offence charged;
(c) persons accused of different offences committed
in the course of the same transaction.
Address of 32. After the accused person has pleaded guilty to the
accused to be
recorded charge read to him in the court under this section the court
27
shall obtain from him his permanent address and shall record
and keep it.
[s. 31A]
Admission by 33.-(1) Where the accused person admits the truth of

accused
the information, or of any economic offence in it, his
admission shall be recorded as nearly as possible in his own
words and then read over to him. Any amendment or
corrections by the accused shall also be recorded.
(2) After an accused person pleads guilty to the

information, the Court shall require the prosecuting officer to
give a brief description of the actual facts and other
particulars constituting the offence which the accused person
admits to have committed, and at the end ask the accused
person whether or not he agrees with the facts and particulars
and what alterations, if any, he would like to be made.
(3) After the particulars of the offence or offences
which the accused person admits to have committed have
been settled, the Court shall convict the accused person of
the offence or offences which he admits, and then proceed to
pass sentence on him, except that where the Court is satisfied
that it is desirable that the passing of the sentence be
deferred it may for reasons to be recorded, defer the same
until some other time.
[s. 32]
Denial by 34. Where the accused person does not admit the
accused
truth of the information or of any economic offence in it, the
Court shall enter a plea of not guilty to that information or
offence and proceed to the preliminary hearing in accordance
with section 35, after which the Court shall hear the evidence
of the witnesses for the prosecution and, if he so wishes, of
the accused person and his witnesses; but where, during the
preliminary hearing or the trial, the accused admits the truth
of the information, or of any economic offence in it, the
Court shall follow the procedure prescribed in section 33.
[s. 33]
28
Preliminary 35.-(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other
hearing
written law, if an accused person pleads not guilty, the Court
shall as soon as practicable hold a preliminary hearing in
open court in the presence of the accused and, where the
accused is represented, his advocate, and of the prosecuting
officer to establish matters relating to the charge which are
not in dispute so as to promote a fair and expeditious trial.
(2) At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing held

under this section the Judge shall prepare a memorandum of
the matters agreed as not disputed, read it over and explain it
to the accused in a language that he understands, and have it
signed by the accused and, if represented, his advocate and
by the prosecuting officer and then filed.
(3) Any fact or document admitted or agreed in a

memorandum filed under this section, whether such fact or
document is mentioned in the summary of evidence or not,
shall be deemed to have been duly proved and it shall not be
necessary to call witnesses to prove it; but if during the
course of the trial the Court is of the opinion that the
interests of justice so demand, it may direct that any fact or
document admitted or agreed in a memorandum filed under
this section be formally proved.
(4) Wherever possible, the accused person shall be

tried during the sessions of the Court at which he is charged,
and if a case be adjourned after the preliminary hearing to a
date more than a month later due to the absence of witnesses
or any other cause, nothing in this section shall be read as
requiring the same Judge who held the preliminary hearing
under this section to preside at the trial.
(5) The Minister may, after consultation with the

Chief Justice, make rules to be published in the Gazette for
the better carrying out of the purposes of this section and
without prejudice to the generality of the power of the
Minister, the rules may provide for-
29
(a) delaying the summoning of witnesses until it is
ascertained whether they will be required to give
evidence on the trial or not;
(b) the giving of notice to witnesses, warning them
that they may be required to attend the Court to
give evidence at the trial.
[s. 34]
Bail 36.-(1) After a person is charged but before he is

Acts Nos.
12 of 1987 convicted by the Court, the Court may on its own motion or
s.13 upon an application made by the accused person, subject to
10 of 1989 the following provisions of this section, admit the accused
Sch.
27 of 1991 person to bail.
Sch. (2) Notwithstanding anything in this section
17 of 1996 contained, no person shall be admitted to bail pending trial,
Sch.
3 of 2016 if the Director of Public Prosecutions certifies that it is likely
s.10 that the safety or interests of the Republic would thereby be
prejudiced.
(3) A certificate issued by the Director of Public
Prosecutions under subsection (2) shall take effect from the
date it is fixed in court or notified to the officer in charge of
a police station, and shall remain in effect until the
proceedings concerned are concluded or the Director of
Public Prosecutions withdraws it.
(4) The Court shall not admit any person to bail if-
(a) it appears to it that the accused person has
previously been sentenced to imprisonment for a
term exceeding three years;
(b) it appears to it that the accused person has
previously been granted bail by a court and failed
to comply with the conditions of the bail or
absconded;
(c) the accused person is charged with an economic
offence alleged to have been committed while he
was released on bail by a court of law;
(d) it appears to the court that it is necessary that the
accused person be kept in custody for his own
protection or safety;
30
(e) the offence for which the person is charged
involves property whose value exceeds ten
million shillings, unless that person pays cash
deposit equivalent to half the value of the
property, and the rest is secured by execution of a
bond;
Cap.95 (f) if he is charged with an offence under the Drugs
and prevention of illicit Traffic in drugs Act.
(5) Where the Court decides to admit an accused

person to bail, it shall impose the following conditions on the
bail, namely-
(a) where the offence with which the person is
charged involves actual money or property whose
value exceeds ten million shillings unless that
person deposits cash or other property equivalent
to half the amount or value of actual money or
property involved and the rest is secured by
execution of a bond;
Provided that, where the property to be deposited is

immovable, it shall be sufficient to deposit the title deed, or
if the title deed is not available such other evidence as is
satisfactory to the court in proof of existence of the property;
save that this provision shall not apply in the case of police
bail;
(b) appearance by the accused before the Court on a
specified date at a specified time and place;
(c) surrender by the accused to the police of his
passport or any other travel document; and
(d) restriction of the movement of the accused to the
area of the town, village or other area of his
residence.
(6) The Court may, in addition to the mandatory
conditions prescribed in subsection (4) impose any one or
more of the following conditions, namely-
(a) requiring the accused to report at specified
intervals to a police station or other authority in
his area of residence;
31
(b) requiring the accused to abstain from visiting a
particular locality or premises, or association with
certain specified persons;
(c) any other condition which the Court may deem fit
to impose in addition to the preceding conditions,
which appear to the Court to be likely to result in the
appearance of the accused for the trial or resumed trial at the
time and place required or as may be necessary in the
interest of justice or for the prevention of crime.
(7) For the purposes of this section, “the Court”
includes every court which has jurisdiction to hear a petition
for and grant bail to a person under charges triable or being
tried under this Act.
[s. 35]
Change of 37. Where an accused person has been admitted to
circumstances
after grant of bail and circumstances arise which, if the accused person had
bail not been admitted to bail would, in the opinion of a law
Act No. officer or a prosecuting officer, justify the Court in refusing
12 of 1987
s.14 bail or in requiring bail of a greater amount, the court which
granted the bail may, on the circumstances being brought to
its notice by a law officer or prosecuting officer issue a
warrant for the arrest of the accused person and, after giving
the accused person an opportunity of being heard may
commit him to remand prison to await trial, but the accused
person may appeal to the court against the order of the
magistrate, and the Court may, on resumption of the trial,
confirm the order or readmit him to bail for the same or
varied conditions and on such an increased amount as the
Court may think just.
[s. 36]
Arrest of 38.-(1) A police officer may arrest without warrant
persons
contravening any person who has been admitted to bail-
bail provisions (a) if the police officer has reasonable ground for
Act No. believing that person is likely to breach the
12 of 1987
s.15 condition that he will appear at the time and place
required or any other condition on which he was
admitted to bail, or has cause to suspect that
person is breaking or has broken any such other
condition; or
32
(b) on being notified in writing by any surety for that
person that the surety believes that person is
likely to breach the first mentioned condition and
for that reason the surety wishes to be relieved of
his obligation as a surety.
(2) A person arrested under subsection (1)-
(a) shall unless he is arrested within the period of
twenty-four hours immediately preceding an
occasion on which he is required by virtue of the
condition of his bail to appear before the Court,
be brought as soon as practicable after his arrest
before a magistrate who, after giving him an
opportunity to be heard, may commit him to
remand prison; and
(b) in the excepted case shall be brought before the
Court for resumption of trial,
and when the court next sits it shall first consider the
question of the alleged contravention of bail conditions by
the accused person.
(3) Where the Court is satisfied that a person arrested
in accordance with subsection (1) was preparing for or was
in the act of leaving any area to which he was restricted by
the Court as a condition of his bail, or was leaving the
United Republic, it shall not consider any appeal or petition
by the accused for any further bail in the same case.
(4) Where a person admitted to bail absconds or fails
to appear before the court before which he is required to
appear on the date fixed and conceals himself so that a
warrant of arrest may not be executed-
(a) the trial in respect of that person before such
court shall continue, irrespective of the stage of
trial when the accused absconds, after sufficient
efforts have been made to trace him and compel
his attendance; and
(b) such of the property, movable or immovable,
involved in the alleged commission of the
economic offence or in respect of which the
economic offence is alleged to have been
committed may, if the economic or other criminal
33
offence is disclosed to be connected with the
absconded or untraced accused, be forfeited to the
United Republic as if the accused were an
absconded suspect in terms of section 24.
[s. 37]
Procedure During Trial
Expedition of 39.-(1) Upon the conclusion of the preliminary

actions
hearing the Court shall in all proceedings take all necessary
measures to ensure the early and just determination of cases
brought before it.
(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions may in any
proceeding before the Court file a certificate stating that in
his opinion the case is of immense or general public
importance; and the certificate shall forthwith be brought to
the attention of the Court.
(3) Upon receipt of a certificate filed pursuant to
subsection (2) the Court shall assign the case for preliminary
hearing or for trial, as the case may be, as soon as
practicable, conduct its hearing and determination, and cause
the trial to be expedited in every way.
[s. 38]
Dismissal of 40. At any stage of the proceedings the Court may, if

charge
satisfied that the accused person has no case to answer,
dismiss the charge and acquit the accused person.
[s. 39]
Procedure on 41.-(1) Where after the prosecution closes its case the
close of case
for Court finds that the evidence for the prosecution establishes
prosecution a case sufficient to require the accused person to defend
himself against the economic offence charged, it shall so
inform the accused person and require him to adduce
evidence in his defence.
(2) Where the Court is satisfied that the evidence

adduced by the prosecution up to the close of its case is not
sufficient to found a conviction of the economic offence
34
charged, but that it established a case in relation to a cognate
offence which is an economic offence and for which the
accused person may be convicted in the alternative, or if the
case for the prosecution establishes other economic offences
in addition to that charged, the Court shall inform the
accused of its finding and require him to defend himself
against the offence established by the prosecution instead of
the offence charged, or against those other economic
offences established by the evidence as well as the offence
charged.
(3) An accused person who elects to give evidence in
his defence may do so either on oath or without taking the
oath, but shall in either case be subject to cross-examination
by the prosecution as well as the Court.
(4) Where an accused person who is required to
defend himself elects with no apparent excuse not to say
anything and, in addition, not to call any witness or
witnesses, an inference adverse to him may be drawn, and
the Court as well as the prosecution may comment on his
failure to give evidence in his defence.
[s. 40]
Procedure on 42.-(1) Where a person charged with an economic
defence of
alibi offence intends to rely upon an alibi in his defence he shall
first indicate to the Court the particulars of the alibi at the
preliminary hearing.
(2) Where an accused person does not raise the

defence of alibi at the preliminary hearing, he shall furnish
the prosecution with the particulars of the alibi he intends to
rely upon as a defence at any time before the case for the
prosecution is closed.
(3) If the accused raises a defence of alibi without
having first furnished the particulars of the alibi to the court
or to the prosecution pursuant to this section, or after the
case for the defence has opened, the Court may, in its
discretion, accord no weight of any kind to the defence.
[s. 41]
35
Judgment and 43.-(1) After all the evidence has been heard, the
sentence
Act No. Court shall proceed to pass judgment and either convicts and
3 of 2016 sentence or acquit and discharge the accused accordingly.
s.10A (2) Every judgment shall contain the point or points
for determination, the decision on the point or points and the
reasons for the decision, and shall be dated and signed by the
trial judge or the majority judges as the case may be.
(3) Where on a question to be decided by a majority
of the judges of the Court, any judge holds the view which is
different from that of the majority, a minority opinion of a
judge shall be signed and dated and the Court shall inform
the parties of the situation and be pronounced in open court.
(4) Where the Court acquits the accused, it shall
require him to give his permanent address for service in case
there is an appeal against his acquittal, and the Court shall
record or cause it to be recorded.
Alternative 44.-(1) When a person is charged with an economic

verdicts
offence and the Court is of the opinion that he is not guilty of
that offence but is guilty of any other economic offence
cognate to the one charged, the Court may convict that
person of that other economic offence although he was not
charged with it.
(2) Where the Court is of the opinion that, in addition
to the economic offence charged, an accused person is guilty
of any other economic offence or offences with which he
could justly have been charged, it may, if it has previously
complied with the provisions of section 41(2), convict that
person of the other economic offence or offences, if it would
have been just at law to charge him with the offence or
offences together with the one with which he is charged;
save that previous non-compliance with section 42(2) shall
not invalidate a subsequent conviction under this section.
[s. 43]
Orders in 45.-(1) Where the Court convicts a person of any

respect of
property economic offence, it may make any order in respect of the
property of that person such as it has power to make in
respect of property under section 23.
36
(2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1)
the Court shall not make an order for the forfeiture of the
property of any person convicted of an economic offence if
the property in question or any part of it is not proved to
have been involved at all in the commission or facilitation of
the offence; and any such property or any part of it shall be
disposed of in accordance with subsection (3) as if the owner
or person in respect of whom it had been seized had been
acquitted.
(3) Where the Court acquits a person of any
economic offence it shall order that any property in respect
of which he was charged or which was involved in the
charge or the value of that property be restored to him.
(4) The Minister shall make regulations providing for
the better and just disposal of property under this section
and, without prejudice to the generality of the power of the
Court such regulations may provide for the manner of the
disposal of forfeited property as well as property in relation
to which no orders of forfeiture are made or intended to be
made by the Court.
[s. 44]
Provisions regarding Evidence
Application of 46. Except as is expressly provided otherwise in this
Evidence Act
Act No. Act, the rules of procedure for the production, reception and
3 of 2016 evaluation of evidence and the manner of proving relevant
s.10B facts in any proceedings under this Act shall be as is
Cap.6
provided by the Evidence Act.
[s. 45]
Manner of 47.-(1) Subject to compliance with the principles
obtaining and
sources of prescribed by this section, the Court may obtain or hear any
evidence evidence which is pertinent to the inquiry before it from such
person or persons and in such manner as it deems necessary
and just.
(2) Subject to compliance with the principles
prescribed by this section, the Court may receive any
evidence which is worth of belief and is relevant and
Cap.6 valuable for the just determination of the inquiry whether or
not the evidence in question is evidence within the meaning
of the term under the Evidence Act.
37
(3) For the purposes of determining whether or not to
hear or receive any evidence or whether or to what extent,
any evidence received be relied upon in reaching its decision
on any matter, the Court shall take into account and be
guided by the principle that-
(a) no person should be involved in finally
determining, or be regarded as a witness whose
evidence may be relied upon in finally
determining, any issue where that person has any
kind of personal interest in the determination;
(b) a person shall not be tried for any offence unless
he is previously fully informed of the intended
accusation;
(c) every person charged before the Court shall,
unless he becomes disruptive or absconds, be
afforded a reasonable opportunity to defend
himself including facilitating the attendance and
appearance of his witness or witnesses, without
which opportunity he shall not be condemned;
(d) the Court shall not do or omit to do any act or
thing the doing or omission of which would
impute bias against or for any side in its decision.
[s. 46]
Evidence on 48.-(1) The evidence to be adduced by all parties and

oath or
affirmation their witnesses in any trial or proceeding before the Court
shall be given on oath or affirmation, except for a child of
the apparent age of or below fourteen years, who, in the
opinion of the Court does not understand the nature of the
oath or affirmation.
(2) Depending on whether the person to give the
evidence belongs to any religion or to none, the alternative
forms of the oath and affirmation to be taken by all persons
prior to giving any evidence before the Court for the
purposes of this Act shall be as prescribed in the Second
Schedule to this Act.
(3) Any person who, after taking the oath or
affirmation, proceeds to give any false testimony or which he
knows to be untrue in any material particular shall be guilty
38
Cap.16 of the offence of perjury and punishable for it by the Court in
accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code relating to
that offence.
[s. 47]
Evidence in 49.-(1) The evidence shall be given in such order as
presence of
accused and the Court directs and, subject to section 50, the evidence for
examination the prosecution shall be given in the presence of the accused
Act No. person.
3 of 2016
s.10C (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)-
(a) without prejudice to the power of the Court to
recall them, witnesses for the prosecution shall
give evidence first;
(b) subject to paragraph (c), if the accused person
wishes to give evidence, he shall give it before
his witnesses do so; and
(c) the accused person shall be afforded an
opportunity of giving evidence in rebuttal of any
evidence given, after he himself has given
evidence, by the witnesses for the prosecution or
witnesses called on the instance of the Court.
(3) The Court as well as the accused person or the
person appearing for him may put relevant questions to the
witnesses for the prosecution.
(4) The Court and the prosecuting officer may put
relevant questions to the witnesses of the accused person
and, if he gives evidence, to the accused person.
(5) The accused person, or the person appearing for
him, and the prosecuting officer may, with the consent of the
Court, put questions to witnesses called by the Court.
(6) The Judge shall record the substance of the
evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution, the accused
person and his witnesses, and after each of them has given
evidence, the Judge or Judges shall affix their signature at
the foot of the evidence.
[s. 48]
Evidence in 50.-(1) The Court may allow evidence to be given
absence of
accused before it in the absence of the accused person if-
39
(a) it considers that by reason of his disruptive
conduct in the face of the Court it is not
practicable for the evidence to be taken in his
presence;
(b) he cannot be present for reasons of health, other
than mental health, but is represented by an
advocate, or a friend or relative and has
consented to the evidence being given in his
absence; or
(c) after being admitted to bail he absconds or
conceals himself such that a warrant of arrest in
relation to him may not be executed, and the
Court proceeds in accordance with section
38(4)(b).
(2) Where an accused person conducts himself so
disruptively in the face of the Court that the trial cannot
proceed in an orderly manner, the Judge may cause him to be
removed to another part of the court building and to remain
there while the trial is in progress, and afford him an
opportunity, at reasonable intervals, of learning of the trial
proceedings through his advocate or other representative.
(3) A disruptive accused person removed from the
court room shall, when informed of the trial proceedings, be
informed also of the continuing opportunity for him to return
to the court room during the trial upon his assurance of good
behaviour; and he may be summoned to the court room at
appropriate intervals and have the offer to permit him to
remain there repeated in open court at each such interval.
(4) For the purposes of this Act, and for the
avoidance of doubt, the Court may deliver judgment in the
absence of the accused person if he conducts himself so
disruptively such that a judgment may not be conveniently
delivered in his presence.
[s. 49]
Interpretation 51.-(1) Where any evidence is given in a language

of evidence
Act No. not understood by the accused person, it shall be interpreted
12 of 1987 to him before the Court in a language understood by him.
s.17
40
(2) Before entering upon the duties of his office, an
interpreter shall be sworn or affirmed by the court.
[s. 50]
Refractory 52.-(1) Where in any proceedings arising under this

witnesses
Act, the Court is satisfied that a person summoned as a
witness in the proceedings is, without lawful cause, refusing
to comply with an order to answer any question put to him,
to testify or provide other information, including producing
any document, record, recording or other material, it may
upon such refusal or when the refusal is brought to its
attention, summarily order him to be confined at a suitable
place until such time as the witness may be willing to answer
the question, give testimony or provide such information.
(2) Confinement of a witness under this section shall

last for the duration of the trial of the case concerned.
(3) Any person confined under this Act may appeal
against the order of confinement to the Court of Appeal.
(4) A person may be granted bail pending the
determination of his appeal; but no bail shall be granted if it
appears that the appeal is frivolous, vexatious or taken for
delaying tactics.
(5) An appeal from an order for confinement under
this section shall be disposed of as soon as practicable, but in
no case shall it remain undetermined for more than thirty
days from the day of its filing.
[s. 51]
Protection of 53.-(1) Where he is satisfied on reasonable grounds

witnesses
Act No. that there is any danger or real possibility of danger of
3 of 2016 interference with any case under this Act through
s.11 interference with or threats of harm to any witness or
potential witness, the Inspector-General of Police may, on
his own motion or after consultation with the Director of
Public Prosecutions, arrange for the provision of security for
the witness or potential witnesses concerned and, if
necessary, the family or families of that witness or potential
witness or witnesses.
41
Cap.446 (2) Subject to subsection (1), the provisions of the
Whistleblower and Witness Protection Act, and any other
relevant law shall apply in matters relating to witness
protection under this Act.
[s. 52]
Immunity of 54.-(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of the of
witnesses
any written law conferring a right to refuse to disclose
official secrets, where in any proceeding arising under this
Act, any witness refuses to answer any question on the
ground that the answer to it may incriminate him, or to
testify or provide other information on the ground that the
information is privileged or he is not authorised to disclose
it, and the Court is of the opinion that such is not the case,
the Court may make an order requiring the witness to answer
the question, testify or provide that other information.
(2) Where a witness is required to do so pursuant to
subsection (1), he may not refuse to comply with the order
requiring him to answer a question, to testify or to provide
that other information, save that no testimony or other
information compelled under the order, or any information
directly or indirectly derived from such testimony or other
information, may be used against the witness in any criminal
case, other than a prosecution for perjury, giving a false
statement or otherwise failing to comply with the order.
(3) Where it appears to any party to any proceedings
arising under this Act that any person who has been or may
be summoned as a witness by him or the adverse party-
(a) has refused or is likely to refuse to answer any
question to testify or provide other information
on the basis of his privilege against self-
incrimination; or
(b) where the information is privileged, that the
information to be produced from that person may
be necessary to the public interest,
that party may request that an order be made under
subsection (1) compelling the person to answer a question, to
testify or to provide such other information.
(4) Where a person is required to answer any
question, to testify or give such other information pursuant to
42
subsection (3), the provisions of subsection (2) as to
immunity shall apply to him in relation to his testimony.
[s. 53]
Depositions to 55.-(1) Where upon application by any party to any
preserve
testimony proceedings under or arising under this Act, it appears to the
Act No. Count or the district court, as the case may be that due to
12 of 1987 exceptional circumstances it is in the interest of justice that
s.18
the testimony of a prospective witness for any party be taken
and preserved, it may, at any time after proceedings have
been instituted and after giving notice to the parties, order
that the testimony of that witness be taken by deposition, and
that any document or other thing not privileged be produced
by that witness at that time and place. After the deposition
has been subscribed by him the Court or the district court, as
the case may be may discharge the witness.
(2) The party on whose application a deposition is to

be taken shall give to every other party reasonable notice of
the time and place for taking the deposition, stating the name
and address of every person to be examined; and such other
party may apply showing sufficient cause for extension or
abridgment of the time or change of the place for taking the
deposition. Any person having custody of an accused person
or control over him shall be notified of the time and place set
for the examination, and shall produce him or permit him to
be present at the examination and in the presence of the
witness.
(3) An accused person may appear with or be
represented by his counsel during the examination of a
witness for the purpose of this section.
(4) Where any witness being deposed has made a
previous statement which is in the possession of the party
calling for the deposition, that party shall make that
statement available to the accused person for his examination
and use at the taking of the deposition unless the statement is
not one which that party would be required to make available
to the accused person if the witness were testifying at the
trial.
43
(5) All depositions for the purposes of this section
shall be taken before any magistrate named by the court
making the order for the taking of the deposition.
(6) At the trial or upon any hearing subsequent to the
taking of a deposition, a part or the whole of a deposition, so
far as it is admissible under the rules of evidence, may be
used, if it appears that-
(a) the witness is dead;
(b) the witness is outside the United Republic, unless
the absence of the witness appears to be or to
have been procured by or with the connivance of
the party offering to use the deposition;
(c) the witness is unable to attend or testify because
of sickness or infirmity; or
(d) the witness is present but refuses to testify
concerning the subject of the deposition or part of
it.
(7) Any deposition may be used at the trial or hearing
to contradict or impeach the testimony of the deponent as a
witness.
(8) Where only a part of a deposition is offered in
evidence by a party, any adverse party may require him to
offer the whole of the deposition which is relevant to the part
offered, and any party may offer other parts.
(9) Objections may be made to receiving in evidence
a deposition or part of it in the same manner and to the same
extent, subject to the provisions of this Act, as they are made
in criminal trials before the High Court.
[s. 54]
Litigation 56.-(1) In every proceeding arising under this Act
concerning
sources of every party shall be entitled to apply that evidence be
evidence rejected on the ground of its source or the manner in which it
was obtained.
(2) Evidence shall be rejected, or its admissibility
shall depend on its being independently corroborated if it is
proved to have been obtained-
(a) through torture, threats or fraud;
(b) after the commission by the person offering it or
his agent of an unlawful act,
44
save that no evidence shall be rejected on the allegation only
that it was unlawfully obtained.
(3) No confession which is tendered as evidence shall
be rejected on the ground only that a promise, threat or
inducement was or has been held out to the person
confessing unless the Court is of the opinion that the
promise, threat or inducement, as the case may be, could
have occasioned the making of an untrue admission.
[s. 55]
PART V
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
Offences 57.-(1) With effect from the 25th day of September,
under this Act
1984, the offences prescribed in the First Schedule to this
Act shall be known as economic offences and triable by the
Court in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) The Minister may, by order published in the
Gazette, and with the prior approval by resolution of the
National Assembly, amend or otherwise alter the First
Schedule to this Act but no offence shall be removed from
the First Schedule under this section except by an Act of
Parliament.
[s. 56]
Application of 58.-(1) The jurisdiction of the Court for the purposes

Penal Code
of this Act shall extend to the same extent and apply in the
same manner and respects as the jurisdiction of the courts of
Cap.16 law in the United Republic does for the purposes of the
Penal Code.
(2) Except where it is expressly stated otherwise in
the preceding provisions of this Act or in the substantive
statement of any one economic offence, the general rules as
Cap.16 to criminal responsibility contained in Chapter IV of the
Penal Code, as well as the provisions of Chapter V of the
Penal Code regarding parties to offences, shall apply in
respect of offences for the purposes of this Act.
[s. 57]
45
Prohibition of 59.-(1) Where the Attorney-General is satisfied that
transfer of
advantage or any person has in his possession or to his credit any property
property or advantage involved in or arising out of the commission by
involved in any person of an economic offence, he may, by notice
economic
offence addressed to that person or to any other person to whom the
property or advantage or the proceeds or value is believed to
have been transferred or conveyed by that person or his
agent, direct that person to whom the notice is addressed not
to transfer, dispose of or part with the possession of the sum
of money, property or other advantage specified in the
notice, and every such notice shall remain in force and be
binding upon the person to whom it is addressed and every
other person to whom the money, property or other
advantage may pass by operation of law for a period of six
months from the date of the notice or, where proceedings for
an offence under this Act or any other written law in relation
to the property or other advantage have been commenced
against any person, until the determination of those
proceedings; save that the Minister may in any case, by order
under his hand, extend that period for such further period or
periods as he may specify.
(2) Any person who has been served with a notice
under subsection (1) and who, in contravention of such
notice, transfers, disposes of or parts with the possession of
the money, property or other advantage specified in the
notice, is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on
conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fifteen
years.
(3) A person prosecuted for an offence under
subsection (2) shall be acquitted if he satisfies the Court that-
(a) the money, property or other advantage
concerned was delivered to a police officer, or to
some other person as directed in the notice;
(b) the money, property or other advantage was
produced to a court and has been retained by that
court; or
(c) the notice was subsequently withdrawn by the
Attorney-General by notification in writing.
[s. 58]
46
Prohibition of 59A.-(1) Notwithstanding the provision of any other
insolvency
Act No. law, the provisions governing bankruptcy or filing of any
3 of 2016 insolvency proceedings shall not apply to property which is
s.12 subject of investigation or trial under this Act.
(2) Winding up of the company and the functions of
the liquidator shall not be performed in relation to property
which is subject of investigation or trial under this Act.
Punishment 60.-(1) Except where a different penalty, measure or

for proved
crimes penal procedure is expressly provided in this Act or in the
Act No. statement of an offence, upon the conviction of any person
3 of 2016 of any economic or other offence falling under the penal
s.12
Cap.4 jurisdiction of the Court, the Court may impose in relation to
s.8 any person, in addition to any order respecting property, any
of the penal measures prescribed by this section, but not any
other.
(2) Notwithstanding provision of a different penalty
under any other law and subject to subsection (7), a person
convicted of corruption or economic offence shall be liable
to imprisonment for a term of not less than twenty years but
not exceeding thirty years, or to both such imprisonment and
any other penal measure provided for under this Act;
Provided that, where the law imposes penal measures
greater than those provided by this Act, the Court shall
impose such sentence.
(3) In addition to the penalty imposed under
subsection (2), the court shall order the confiscation and
forfeiture to the Government of all instrumentalities and
proceeds derived from the offence committed under this Act.
(4) All awards for compensation shall be taken from
the personal properties or joint owned properties or such
interest to the joint owned property attributed to the offender,
where such properties are insufficient to cover the award,
such balance shall be a civil debt due to the Government
recoverable by civil process.
(5) Where the proceeds and instrumentalities in
respect of which the offence was committed are destroyed,
diminished in value or otherwise rendered worthless by any
act or omission, directly or indirectly of the offender, or have
47
been concealed, removed, converted or transferred to prevent
the same from being found or to avoid forfeiture or
confiscation, the offender shall be ordered to pay the amount
equal to the value of the proceeds or instrumentalities of the
offence.
(6) A person who knowingly aids or abets the
offender in destroying, diminishing in value or otherwise
rendering the proceeds or instrumentalities of the offence
worthless by any act or omission, directly or indirectly under
this Act, commits an offence and shall upon conviction, be
liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
(7) In considering the propriety of the sentence to be
imposed, the Court shall comply with the principle that-
(a) a proved offence which is in the nature of an
organised crime or one that is endangering the
national economy or public property, in the
absence of mitigating circumstances, deserves the
maximum penalty;
(b) any other economic offence may be sentenced
with a sentence that is suitably deterrent; and
(c) a child shall be sentenced in accordance with the
Cap.13
provisions of the Law of the Child Act.
[ss. (3)]
(8) Every order made by the Court under this Act
which authorises the forfeiture of property shall be sufficient
authority for the Inspector-General of Police to seize all
property or other interest declared forfeited upon such terms
and conditions as the Court shall see fit to impose.
[ss. (5)]
(9) Where any forfeited property, right or other
interest is not exercisable or capable of transfer for value by
an agency of the United Republic it shall expire, and shall
not revert to the person from whom the forfeiture is intended
to divest it.
[ss. (6)]
(10) The provisions of any written law relating to the
disposition of property, or the proceeds from the sale of
property, or the remission or mitigation of forfeitures for
violation of customs and excise laws, and the compromise of
48
claims and the award of compensation to informers in
respect of such forfeitures shall apply to forfeitures incurred
or alleged to have been incurred, under this section, so long
as they are applicable and not inconsistent with the purposes
and provisions of this Act.
[ss. (7)]
(11) Such duties as are imposed upon the
Commissioner for Customs or any of the person in relation
to the disposition of property under customs, excise and
taxation legislation shall, in relation to matters arising from
offences or proceedings under this Act, be performed by the
Inspector-General of Police who shall dispose of all such
property as soon as is commercially feasible, making due
provision for the rights of innocent persons and in
accordance with this Act.
[ss. (8)]
[s. 59]
Orders for 61.-(1) Where the Court is satisfied that the
compensation,
restitution etc. commission of the economic offence of which a person is
convicted involved or caused or is likely to cause any injury
or damage to any person, body of persons or other authority
or to the property or interest in the property of any person,
body of persons or other authority, the Court may-
(a) order that the person convicted pay such
compensation for the injury or damage concerned
as it may deem just;
(b) order the person convicted or any other person
concerned to divest himself of any direct or
indirect interest in any enterprise;
(c) impose such a restriction as it may consider
reasonable on the future activities or investments
of the person convicted or any other person,
including but not limited to, prohibiting any
person from engaging in the same type of
endeavour as the enterprise engaged in, the
activities of which facilitated or were connected
to the commission of the economic offence in
question, or do otherwise after internal trade or
foreign commerce;
49
(d) order the dissolution or reorganisation of any
enterprise, making due provision for the rights of
innocent persons; or
(e) make any other order in respect of the convicted
person or his property, for the purpose of
providing for adequate restitution of any public
property or interest injured or damaged, and for
the better control, averting, reduction or
eradication of economic and organised crime.
(2) In making an order under subsection (1) involving

the attachment of the property of any person, the Court shall
Cap.33 comply with the provisions of section 48 of the Civil
Procedure Code.
(3) An order made under subsection (1) shall be filed

by the person or authority in whose favour it is made in the
district court having jurisdiction over the area in which the
convicted person, or the person against whom it is made,
ordinarily resides or in which the property concerned is
situate, and upon being so filed the order shall be deemed to
Cap.33 be a decree passed by the district court and may be executed
in that same manner as if it were a decree passed under the
provisions of the Civil Procedure Code and the district court
shall have jurisdiction to execute the decree notwithstanding
that the value of the property or the amount of the
compensation awarded exceeds the pecuniary jurisdiction of
the district court.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the Court may at

any time pending the determination of any proceedings,
upon the application of the prosecution or of any other
person or authority injured in his business or property by
reason of the acts of the accused person, enter such
restraining orders, prohibitions or injunctions, or take such
other actions including the acceptance of satisfactory
performance bonds, as it may deem just.
50
(5) Where an application is made under subsection
(4) for the exercise by the Court of its powers under that
subsection, the Court shall not make any order in favour of
the applicant unless he proves the damage or injury and his
own non-contribution to its occurrence or causation.
[s. 60]
Right of 62.-(1) A person aggrieved by a decision of the Court

appeal
Act No. may appeal to the Court of Appeal of the United Republic in
12 of 1987 accordance with established law in that behalf.
s.19 (2) Where a court subordinate to the High Court
hears and determines a case the decision of which aggrieves
a party, the appeal against that decision shall first be made to
the High Court.
[s. 61]
PART VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Regulations 63. The Minister may make regulations providing for

anything which is required or may be provided for under this
Act, and generally for the better carrying out of the purposes
and provisions of this Act.
[s. 62]
Power to make 63A.-(1) The Chief Justice may, by Order published

Rules
Act No. in the Gazette, make rules for the better performance of the
3 of 2016 duties of the Court.
s.14 (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection
(1), the rules may prescribe-
(a) the contents and manner in which various court
reports shall be prepared and submitted;
(b) contents of records of committal proceedings;
(c) procedures governing preliminary hearing;
(d) procedure for summoning of witnesses and for
hearing of cases under this Act;
(e) procedure and conduct of the Registrar in the
performance of functions under this Act;
51
(f) protection of witnesses under this Act; and
(g) anything which needs to be prescribed by rules
under this Act.
Omitted 64. Amends certain written laws.

[s. 63]
Repeal 65. Repeals by Acts Nos.9 and 10 of 1983.

[s. 64]
Savings 66.-(1) Notwithstanding the establishment of the

Act No.
3 of 2016 Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High
s.15 Court, where the Economic Crimes Court had-
(a) commenced the hearing of any case relating to
economic offences, it shall continue with the
hearing until it determines the proceedings in that
case; or
(b) adjourned the hearing of any case relating to an
economic offence, it shall resume the hearing on
the fixed or earlier date and proceed to further
hear and determine the proceedings in that case,
but the court shall not take a plea or pleas in
respect of any fresh case not brought before the
commencement of this Act.
(2) The coming into operation of the amending Act
shall not-
(a) affect the previous operation of the amended Act
or anything duly done or suffered under it;
(b) revive anything not in force or existing at the
time immediately before the commencement of
this Act;
(c) affect any right, privilege, or obligation or
liability acquired, accrued, or incurred under the
amended Act; or
(d) affect any penalty, forfeiture or punishment
incurred in respect of any economic offence or
other offence committed and triable under the
amended Act.
52
Act No. (3) For the purpose of this section “amending Act”
3 of 2016
means the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act.
_________
FIRST SCHEDULE
________
ECONOMIC OFFENCES
__________
(Section 57(1))
_____________
Deleted 1. Deleted by Act No.3 of 2009 s.39.

Deleted 2. Deleted by Act No.3 of 2009 s.39.
Hoarding 3.-(1) A person, whether or not licensed to carry
commodities on the business of selling commodities of any description,
Act No. Commits an offence under this paragraph of hoarding
12 of 1987 commodities if, not being a manufacturer or producer of the
s.20
Cap. 4
commodities-
s.8 (a) he is found in possession of commodities
which are in demand by the public in the
locality concerned of a value exceeding one
million shillings in circumstances in which it
can be inferred that they are not displayed or
stocked for lawful sale or use or available for
purchase by any persons offering the lawful
price;
(b) he sells or offers any commodity for sale at a
price or subject to a term or condition which is
unlawful or which, having regard to all
relevant circumstances, is unreasonable; or
(c) in the course of carrying on the business of
selling any commodity, he engages in any
trade practice which is intended or likely-
(i) to create an artificial shortage in the
supply of any commodity;
(ii) to aggravate an actually existing shortage
in the supply of any commodity;
(iii) to cause an unlawful increase or decrease
in the official or commercially accepted
price of any commodity; or
(iv) to adversely affect the fair distribution of
any commodity amongst the purchasing
population of the area concerned.
53
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph-
(a) a person shall be deemed to have in stock any
commodities of any description in any place if
he is the owner of any amount or quantity of
such commodities;
(b) “person” includes any employee or agent of
such person (whether or not the employment
agency would be such at law), and where such
employee or agent is charged with an offence
under this paragraph the provisions of
subparagraph (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis
to the employee or agent as they apply where
the person charged, the employer or, as the
case may be, the agent;
(c) whether or not licensed to carry on business a
person shall be deemed to be carrying on the
business of selling commodities of any
description if, at that time when the offence is
alleged to have been committed or at any
reasonable period preceding or succeeding the
date when the offence is alleged to have been
committed, he had possession of an amount or
quantity of such commodities in
circumstances in which it may reasonably be
inferred that such commodities were intended
by him to be sold by him or he had held
himself out as being a seller of those
commodities.
(3) Where a person is charged with an offence
under this paragraph, it shall be a good defence for him to
prove that-
(a) there was no shortage in the supply of the
commodity or commodities concerned in the
locality in question;
(b) the stocking of the amount or quantity of
commodities concerned was not intended or
likely to create any shortage in the supply of
the commodities or to have any other adverse
effect on the distribution of the commodities
in the locality;
(c) the commodities found in any premises under
his control or management did not belong to
him and that he had no right to dispose of any
of the commodities in any way and that he
did, at the earliest possible opportunity, advise
the authorities investigating the matter of the
identity of the owner;
54
(d) the commodities owned by him or which he
had the right to dispose of had at the time
when they were found in his possession, been
lawfully sold or otherwise lawfully disposed
of to another person;
(e) the commodities in stock were for his own
lawful use or were being used in connection
with his lawful business; or
(f) he had kept them in store as a reasonable
precaution, taken in the interests of his own
household, against probable imminent future
shortage or famine, or in order to meet a
requirement of any future event reasonably
important to him.
(4) The standard of proof by the accused of any of
the facts or circumstances set our in subparagraph (3) shall
be on a balance of probabilities.
(5) The Court may, in addition to any other penal
measure it may impose, order the forfeiture of all the
commodities of the same description as the commodities to
which the charge relates and held in stock by such person
on the date on which the offence was committed, unless any
other person satisfies the Court that any of those
commodities belonged to him and not to the accused, and
that that other person is himself not guilty of an offence
under this paragraph.
Leading 4.-(1) A person commits the offence of leading

organized organised crime who-
crime (a) intentionally or willfully organises, manages,
Act No. directs, supervises or finances a criminal
12 of 1987
s.20
racket;
Cap.4 (b) knowingly incites or induces others to engage
s.8 in violence or fraud or intimidation for the
purposes of promoting or furthering the
objects of a criminal racket;
(c) knowingly furnishes advice, assistance or
direction in the conduct, financing, execution
or management of the business or affairs of a
criminal racket with intent either to reap profit
or other benefit from such act or to promote or
further the criminal objectives of the criminal
racket; or
(d) being a public official, and in violation of his
official duty, or not being a public official but
in collusion with such a public official,
intentionally promotes or furthers the
55
objectives of a criminal racket by inducing or
committing any act or omission.
(2) A person shall not be convicted of an offence
under this paragraph on the basis of accountability as an
accomplice unless he aids or participates in the
contravention of this paragraph in one of the ways
specified.
Deleted 5. [Deleted by Act No. 2 of 2007 s.31.]
Fraudulent 6. Any person who, pursuant to a scheme or
schemes, artifice to defraud-
games and (a) by means of false or fraudulent pretences,
artifices, theft representations, promises or material
of public
property etc.
omissions; or
Cap.4 (b) by means of false pretences, representations,
s.8 or deception to gain the confidence of any
person,
knowingly obtains from any person any benefit, commits
an offence under this paragraph.
Persons 7.-(1) Any person who-
conveying or (a) on being detained as a result of the exercise of
having the power conferred by section 24 of the
possession of Criminal Procedure Act, or section 22 of this
goods
suspected of
Act, is found in possession of, or conveying in
having been any manner, anything which may be
stolen or reasonably suspected of having been stolen or
unlawfully otherwise unlawfully acquired; or
acquired (b) is found by any police officer in possession of
Act No. or having control over any property which
12 of 1987 may, having regard to all the circumstances,
s.20 be reasonably suspected of having been stolen
Cap.20 or otherwise unlawfully acquired,
Cap. 4
s.8
may if the value of the thing or the property concerned
exceeds one million shillings be charged with being in
possession of, or conveying, or having control over as the
case may be the property which is suspected of having been
stolen or otherwise unlawfully acquired and shall, if he fails
to satisfy the Court that he did not steal or otherwise
unlawfully acquire the property, Commits an offence with
which he is charged and be liable, on conviction, to
imprisonment in accordance with this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph “unlawfully
acquired” means acquired in circumstances which
constitute a criminal offence under any written law and also
means acquired-
56
(a) as consideration of any sale, barter or other
disposition of any property so unlawfully
acquired; or
(b) by way of purchase with funds, the whole or
any part of which was so unlawfully acquired.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under this
paragraph-
(a) the accused shall not be entitled to acquittal by
reason only of the fact that, on the evidence
before the Court, he could have been charged
with, or convicted of, theft or other like
offence, which is not an economic offence, in
respect of the property; save that an accused
person convicted of an offence under this
paragraph in respect of any property shall not
be charged with or be convicted of an offence
of stealing or other like offence, which is not
an economic offence, in respect of the
property; save that an accused person
convicted of an offence under this paragraph
in respect of any property shall not be charged
with or be convicted of an offence of stealing
or other like offence, which is not an
economic offence, in respect of the same
property;
(b) where the Court is satisfied that the accused
was detained by a police officer in the
Cap.20 exercise of the power conferred by section 25
of the Criminal Procedure Act, or section 22
of this Act, the Court may presume that the
property found in his possession or being
conveyed by him may reasonably be
suspected of having been stolen or otherwise
unlawfully acquired by him.
Omitted 8. [Omitted under Fair Competition Act].
Authorization 9.-(1) Any person who, being in authority,

of unlawful knowingly and without lawful excuse, causes or procures a
supply of supplier or distributor to supply designated goods to a
designated person who is not an authorised trader for purposes of
authority
goods
resale, or to supply designated goods in inordinate amounts
Cap. 4 or quantities to any authorised trader, commits an offence
s.8 under this paragraph.
(2) A person shall be deemed to be in authority if,
being the holder of any elective or appointive office in any
57
specified authority, he gives a direction, suggestion or
advice whether or not in writing, to a supplier or distributor
in connection with the disposition, of any designated goods
in the manner referred to in subparagraph (1), and the said
supplier or distributor acts in accordance with the direction,
suggestion or advice.
(3) An amount or quantity of designated goods
shall be deemed to be inordinate if-
(a) where the supply is done once, the amount of
quantity is in excess of the amount or quantity
ordinarily supplied or sold to the majority of
the other purchaser of the same goods in the
same locality with the same right, financial
ability and willingness to purchase the goods
in question; or
(b) where the supply is done on more than one
occasions, the frequency of such occasions is
extraordinary compared to the frequency at
which the same goods are supplied over a
given period to other purchasers in the locality
with the same right, financial ability and
willingness to purchase the goods in question.
(4) It shall be a good defence for a person charged
with an offence under this paragraph if he satisfies the
Court that there existed any circumstances which
constituted a reasonable or lawful excuse for his action or
that his action was motivated by anything that was
beneficial to the public interest.
Occasioning 10.-(1) Any person who, whether or not he is an

loss to at employee of a specified authority by any wilful act or
specified omission, or by his negligence or misconduct, or by reason
authority of his failure to take reasonable care or to discharge his
Act No.
12 of 1987
duties in a reasonable manner, causes any specified
s.20 authority to suffer a pecuniary loss or causes any damage to
Cap.4 any property owned by or in the possession of any specified
s.8 authority, notwithstanding any written law to the country,
commits an offence under this paragraph, if the monetary
value of the loss or damage exceeds one million shillings.
(2) A specified authority shall, for the purposes of
subparagraph (1), be deemed to have incurred a pecuniary
loss notwithstanding-
(a) that it has received or is entitled to receive any
payment in respect of such loss under any
policy of insurance; or
(b) that it has been otherwise compensated, or is
entitled to be compensated, for that loss.
58
(3) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby
declared that where any person charged with stealing
anything, or with any other offence under any written law,
in relation to a specified authority, is acquitted, he may be
subsequently charged and tried for an offence under this
paragraph even if the subsequent charge under this
paragraph is based on the same acts or omissions upon
which the previous charge was based.
(4) Where the Court convicts a person of an
offence under this paragraph, it shall, in addition to any
other penal measure it imposes, order such person to pay to
the specified authority compensation of an amount not
exceeding the amount of the actual loss incurred by the
specified authority and in assessing such compensation the
court shall have regard to any extenuating circumstances it
may consider relevant.
(5) Where an order is made under subparagraph
(4), the specified authority in whose favour such order is
made may file an authenticated copy of the order in the
district court having jurisdiction over the area over which
the Court has jurisdiction, and upon being so filed the order
shall be deemed to be a decree passed by that district court
and may be executed in the same manner as if it were a
decree passed under the provisions of the Civil Procedure
Code, and the district court shall have jurisdiction to
execute that decree notwithstanding that the amount of the
compensation awarded exceeds the pecuniary jurisdiction
of the district court.
Offences 11. A person commits an offence under this

relating to paragraph who commits any offence contrary to sections
prohibited, 146 and 147 of the Customs (Management and Tariff) Act-
restricted and (a) which is beyond the statutory power of the
uncistomed
goods
Commissioner of Customs to compound;
Act No. (b) which, considering the circumstances of its
12 of 1987 commission, the Commissioner of Customs is
s.20 of the opinion, which he shall certify to the
13 of 1988 Director of Public Prosecutions, that it is
Sch. unsuitable to compound; or
Cap.47 (c) which the Director of Public Prosecutions
Cap.4 considers is unsuitable to compound and
s.8 informs the Commissioner of Customs of his
opinion.
Interfering 12. A person commits an offence under this

with a paragraph who damages, hinders, interferes with or does
necessary any act which is likely to damage, hinder or interfere with,
59
service or the carrying on of a necessary service contrary to section
Cap.47 3(d) of the National Security Act.
Using 13. Any person who, in the commission of any

firearms etc. offence, other than assault or robbery or any other offence
punishable with death or imprisonment of life, uses a
firearm or any explosive materials commits an offence
under this paragraph.

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 17, 19,
Wildlife 24, 26, 28, 47, 53, 103, 105, Part X or Part XI of the
Caps. 283 or Wildlife Conservation Act or section 16 of the National
282
Act No.
Parks Act.
3 of 2016
s.16
Unlawful 15. A person commits an offence under this

prospecting paragraph who unlawfully prospects or mines for minerals,
etc. contrary to the provisions of the Mining Act.
Cap.123
Offences in 16. Omitted.

relation to
gemstones
Offences in 17. Omitted.

relation to
diamonds
Act No.
12 of 1987
Sch.
Theft of mail 18.-(1) Any person who, whether or not an

matter employee or officer of the Tanzania Posts Corporation-
(a) embezzles any letter, postal card, package,
bag or mail or any article or thing contained in
it, intended to be or being conveyed by mail or
carried or delivered by any carrier, messenger,
agent or other person acting on behalf of the
postal authorities, or forwarded through or
delivered from any Post office or its station; or
(b) steals, abstracts or removes from any such
letter, package, bag or mail, any article or
thing contained in it,
commits an offence under this paragraph.
(2) Where the Court convicts a person of an
offence under this paragraph, it shall make an order for the
60
complainant such as it is empowered to make in respect of
the offence of occasioning loss to a specified authority, and
the provisions of paragraph 7 of this Schedule in relation to
the order for compensation shall apply mutatis mutandis to
the order compensation under this paragraph.
Deleted 19. Deleted by Act No 2 of 2010, s11.
Hoarding of 20.-(1) A person commits an offence under this

money paragraph who disrupts, damages, hinders or interferes with
Act No. a property which is used or is intended to be used for the
10 of 1989 purpose of providing a necessary service.
Sch.
GN. No.
(2) If the offence-
658 of 1998 (a) is committed under the circumstance which is
Cap.4 likely to result in danger to human life the
s.8 offender shall be liable to imprisonment to a
term of not less than twenty years but not
more than a term of thirty years;
(b) is committed under the circumstance which is
not likely to result in danger to human life the
offender shall be liable to imprisonment to a
term of not less than fifteen years but not
more than a term of twenty years.
(3) In this paragraph, “necessary service” includes
any-
(a) service relating to installation, transmission,
supply or distribution of electricity or
telecommunication;
(b) fire service;
(c) sewerage, rubbish disposal or other sanitation
service;
(d) health, hospital or ambulance service;
(e) service relating to the supply or distribution of
water, gas or petroleum;
(f) road, railway, bridge, underground tunnel, car
park, ferry, pontoon, any airfield, harbour or
dock;
(g) pipeline which is used for the supply of water
or fuel.

under the paragraph who commits any offence under the Prevention
Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act other than an offence
and under section 15 of that Act.
Combating of
Corruption
Act
Cap.329
61

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 12, 17 or
anti-money 20 of the Anti- Money Laundering Act.
laundering
Cap.423

drugs control 23 of the Drugs Control and Enforcement Act.
Cap.95

related to paragraph who commits any offence under the Prevention
terrorism of Terrorism Act.

related to paragraph who commits any offence under the Territorial
territorial sea Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act.
and exclusive
economic
zone

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 18 of the
deep sea Deep Sea Fishing Authority Act.
fishing
Cap.388

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 18 of the
mining Mining Act.
Cap.123

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 11, 13, 14
atomic energy or 72 of the Atomic Energy Act.
Cap.188

Medicines 114 of the Tanzania Food and Drugs Control Act.
Cap.219

related to paragraph also commits an offence under section 23 or 24
extractive of the Tanzania Extractive Industries (Transparency and
industries Accountability) Act.
Cap.447
62
related to fire paragraph who commits an offence under section 20, 21 or
arms and 45 of the Fire Arms and Ammunition Control Act.
ammunition
Cap.223

related to paragraph who commits any offence under the Armaments
armaments Control Act.
Cap.246

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 86 or 89
forestry of the Forest Act.
Cap.323

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 239 or
petroleum 240 of the Petroleum Act.
Cap.392

related to oil paragraph who commits an offence under section 21 of the
and gas Oil and Gas Revenues Management Act.
revenues
Cap.328

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 6, 7, 8, 9,
cyber 10, 11, 12 or 19 of the Cyber Crimes Act.
Cap.443

related to paragraph who commits an offence under section 120, 122,
electronic and 123 or 124 of the Electronic and Postal Communications
postal Act.
communicatio
ns Cap.306

under the paragraph who commits an offence under section 66,96,
Penal Code 194A, 284A, or 318A of the Penal Code.
Cap.16

related to paragraph who commits offence under section 16 of the
whistleblower Whistleblower and Witness Protection Act.
and witness
protection
Cap.446
63
___________
SECOND SCHEDULE
__________________
OATHS OR AFFIRMATION OF WITNESSES

________________
(Sections 48(2))
________________
Christians: “I swear that I shall do my best to tell the truth SO HELP ME GOD”
Muslims: “Wallah, Billahi, Ta Alahi:
I solemnly affirm that I shall do my best to tell the truth.”
Hindu: “I solemnly affirm that I shall do my best to tell the truth.”
Others: “I solemnly affirm that I shall do my best to tell the truth.”
_____________________________
64

The Economic and Organised Crime Control Act

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The Economic and Organised Crime Control Act

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THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

THE ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIME CONTROL ACT

REVISED EDITION 2019

Dodoma, ADELARDUS L. KILANGI

PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, DAR ES SALAAM - TANZANIA

THE ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIME CONTROL ACT

Establishment and composition of the Court

3. Establishment, composition and jurisdiction of Court.

Jurisdiction and Functions

11. Powers and duties of Court.

The Decision to Prosecute

THE ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIME CONTROL ACT

Short title 1.This Act may be cited as the Economic and

Interpretation 2.-(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise

“decision” includes a judgment, finding, acquittal,

Establishment and composition of the Court

Establishment, 3.-(1) There is established the Corruption and

Repealed 4. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8A.

Repealed 5. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8A.

Repealed 6. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8A.

Repealed 7. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8A.

Place of 13. The proceedings of the Court shall be conducted

Disclosure of 14.-(1) No member shall sit on the Court for the

Privilege of 15.-(1) Save as is expressly provided by this Act, no

Repealed 16. Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2016 s.8B.

(2) The Court may, in any appropriate case, after the

Contempt of 18.-(1) Any person who-

Power of 19.-(1) When any offence under section 18 is

Application of 20.-(1) Except as is provided in this Part, and in any

(b) anything in respect of which there are reasonable

Disposal and 23.-(1) Where before the institution or determination

(5) Where the person charged with but acquitted of

(6) Facilitating the commission of an offence shall be

Disappearance 24.-(1) Where the Inspector-General of Police is

(3) Upon the expiration of the period of the notice

(a) the name of the absconding suspect;

(4) Where upon receipt of certificate lodged with it in

DPP to be 25.-(1) In this Part, the term “Director of Public

Consent of 26.-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, no

Repealed 27. Repealed by Act No. 1 of 2008 s. 37.

Application of 28. Except as is provided in this Part to the contrary,

Procedure on 29.-(1) After a person is arrested, or upon the

Committal for 30.-(1) Upon receipt of the copy of the information

Information 31.-(1) Every information shall contain such

Admission by 33.-(1) Where the accused person admits the truth of

(2) After an accused person pleads guilty to the

(2) At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing held

(3) Any fact or document admitted or agreed in a

(4) Wherever possible, the accused person shall be

(5) The Minister may, after consultation with the

Bail 36.-(1) After a person is charged but before he is

(5) Where the Court decides to admit an accused

Provided that, where the property to be deposited is

Procedure During Trial

Expedition of 39.-(1) Upon the conclusion of the preliminary

Dismissal of 40. At any stage of the proceedings the Court may, if

(2) Where the Court is satisfied that the evidence

(2) Where an accused person does not raise the