The Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday rejected bail application by four directors of Development for Entrepreneurship Cooperative Initiative (DECI).

The quartette is on trial for conspiracy and theft of over Sh118 million through the pyramid scheme.

The prosecution successfully argued that the accused be denied bail since they committed the offence while out on bail connected to another criminal case. The accused, who are church pastors, are Jackson Sifaeli Mtares, Dominick Kigendi, Timotheo Ole Loitg'nye and Samuel Sifael Mtares.

Resident magistrate Aloyce Katemana said that the accused could be be released on bail since they had defied bail terms in another criminal case.

Mr Katemana said that there was no dispute that the accused were facing another criminal offence number 109 and they were released on bail on condition not to engage in any criminal activities.

Sh118,440,000, the property of Deci (TZ) Ltd. They allegedly committed the offence on December 8 at Kariakoo branch of the Standard Chartered bank.

The prosecution led by state attorney Kishenyi Mutalemwa had told the court that according to section 148 (5) c of the Criminal Procedures Act, the accused were not supposed to commit any offence while out on bail.

The accused along with another Deci official, Mr Francis Kipilimba, are facing another charge of running a pyramid scheme. The case that is before principal resident magistrate Warialwande Lema, will be heard on January 31 next year.