THE hearing of government appeal against former Dar es Salaam Regional Crime Officer, Abdallah Zombe at the Court of appeal was adjourned on Tuesday, after one of the judges was reported to be sick.

Three Justices, Nathalia Kimaro, Semistocles Kaijage and Catherine Oriyo were required to hear the appeal. However, Justice Nathalia Kimaro adjourned the appeal because Justice Kaijage was sick. "We cannot hear the appeal today, because one of the judges is sick," she said.

Zombe and his co-accused were charged with the murder of three mineral businessmen - Sabinus Chigumbi and his relatives Ephrahim Chigumbi and Mathias Lunkombe from Mahenge in Morogoro region, and Juma Ndugu who was a taxi driver in the city.

The appeal was filed by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against the judgment, arguing that Judge Salum Masati who presided over the case erred to have discharged the accused. The ruling of Judge Masati said that the accused had not committed the murder, charging the prosecution to bring to court the real killers.

Others who were accused with Zombe includes ASP Ahmed Makelle, ASP Christopher Bageni, Constable Jane Andrew, Constable Noel Leornard, Constable Emmanuel Mabula, Corporal Felix Sedrick and Corporal Nyangerela Moris.

Others are Corporal Rashid Lema (He died before the trial commenced), Constable Michael Shonza, Corporal Abeneth Salo,Corporal Rajabu Bakari and Corporal Festus Gwabisabi. On September 17, 2009 the High Court acquitted all the accused, saying that after submissions and testimonies, he was satisfied that the accused were not guilty of what they were charged with.