A MAN identified as Salehe Magongo (53) committed suicide in his room in Dar es Salaam allegedly in fear of a court action. He had not been able to pay back 1.6m/- obtained to the owner of a plot of land he had sold.

Ilala Region Police Commander (RPC) Ms Marietha Minangi confirmed the death saying the deceased was a resident of Bangolo village in Ilala Municipality. "Magongo used a sisal rope to take his own life on Friday at around 09:00 am," Commander Minangi said.

The RPC said that preliminary investigations reveal that his inability to pay back his debt pushed him to take his own life. The deceased's body was taken to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) mortuary. In a separate incident 17 people were arrested in connection with illegal possession of five bundles of marijuana, 101 pellets, 47 rolls and 46 litres of illicit local brew popularly known as 'gongo'.

According to the police, the arrests were made when the police conducted a special operation at various locations in Kinondoni district. Kinondoni Region Police Commander (RPC) Charles Kenyela said yesterday that the suspects were apprehended on Friday morning in Tandale, Manzese, Kigogo, Boko-Chasimba and Bunju areas.

"The names of the suspects include Abdalah Hamis (23), Masoud Abdallah (34), Ramadhan Seleman (30), Salehe Omary (17), Ally Haji (33), Iddy Athuman(26), Abdallah Msozi (33) and other 10 suspects," said Commander Kenyela.