By CIPESA Writer |
Jamii Forums Founder, Maxence Melo has been charged with three offences before a court in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The charges are:
1: Management of a domain not registered in Tanzania under Section 79(c) of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act (2010).
2: Obstruction of investigations under Section 22 (2) of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015 for not complying with an order of disclosure of data in his possession. This followed an order by the Tanzania Police Force to release data pertaining to electronic communications published on his Jamii Forums site between April 10, 2016 and December 13, 2016.
3: Obstruction of investigations under Section 22 (2) of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015 for not complying with an order to disclose data in his possession. This follows an order by the Tanzania Police Force to release data pertaining to electronic communications published on his site between May 10, 2016 and December 13, 2016.
Section 79 of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act (2010) provides for the regulation of all electronic communication numbering and electronic addresses by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). Part C of the section mandates the authority to perform oversight role of management of the country’s code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).
Meanwhile, Section 22 of the Cyber Crimes Act 2015 relates to unlawful interference with investigations and refusal to comply with an order under the Act.
Max was arrested on Tuesday December 13. He remained in police custody until his arraignment before court this morning. According to his lawyer, a bail application has been denied.