A famous tanzanite businessman in the city of Arusha, Joel Mollel popularly known as Saitoti, who is also the Director of the Gem & Rock Venture Company and seven of his colleagues have today been brought to the dock in the District Court of Simanjiro, Manyara region to answer two charges of assault and defying decree of the Ministry of Mines March 13, 2023 Block C mine owned by the government and native investor Onesmo Mbise.

Apart from Saitoti, the other defendants are Petro Exsaud (48) resident of Moshono Arusha, Mosses Kelerwa (45) resident of Mirerani, Daniel Siyaya (44) resident of Ilboru Arusha, Mosses Sirikwa (46) resident of Ilboru, Dausen Mollel (58) resident of Ilboru and Enock Nanyaro (32) resident of Arusha.

Being prosecuted by the Police Prosecutor, Mosses Hamilton before the Presiding Judge of the Simanjiro District Court, Charles Uiso, it was alleged that in the first indictment concerning all seven of them, they attacked six employees of Franone Mining Company with rocks and mining weapons of tanzanite Block C in collaboration with the government.

The second charge concerns the two defendants Saitoti and Enock Mollel, who were allegedly charged with one charge of disobeying the order of the Ministry of Mines, where it was alleged that they were prevented from carrying out mining activities in the area.

All the defendants denied the charge and met the bail criteria, the case will be mentioned again on April 14 this year.